Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in thoracic surgery

The assessment of functional capacity is a significant part of the preoperative evaluation of patients proposed for both thoracic and abdominal surgery. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is the most comprehensive exercise test currently used. It provides an objective assessment of the patient's training level and an individualised risk profile for complications and guides the perioperative care. This article provides a brief description of the roles of CPET in thoracic surgery. Guidelines recommend it for perioperative assessments because of its prognostic value, its utility in the postoperative period and in pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.