Role of cardiopulmonary exercise testing as a risk-assessment method in patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery: a systematic review.

A review study on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) used as a preoperative risk-stratification tool for patients undergoing non-cardiopulmonary intra-abdominal surgery has been published on the British Journal of Anesthesia.

Previous studies indicate that CPET may be beneficial, but research is needed to quantify CPET values protective against poor postoperative outcome [mortality, morbidity, and length of stay (LOS)].

The study conlcudes that "cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a useful preoperative risk-stratification tool that can predict postoperative outcome. Further research is needed to justify the ability of CPET to predict postoperative outcome in renal transplant, colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, and bariatric surgery."

The article is freely available at the following link: click here