Cardiac Investigations Department
Sligo Regional Hospital
Author:
Anthony Ryan, (Chief Cardiac Physiologist)
Marie Casey (RIS Manager)
Approved by:
Anthony Ryan (Chief Cardiac Physiologist)
Dr. Donal Murray (Consultant Physician/Cardiology)
Date:
6th November 2014
Review date:
5th November 2016
(Referenced from the Clinical Guidance by Consensus, recommendations
for Clinical Exercise Tolerance Testing March 2008)
1.
Introduction
This document aims to provide Health Care Professionals guidelines on
referring patients for Exercise Stress Test.
Clinical EST is an established non-invasive procedure that provides
diagnostic and prognostic information for the evaluation of several
pathologies, the most common of which is coronary heart disease. The
EST does not provide detailed information on an individual’s capacity for
dynamic exercise; other techniques, such as cardio-pulmonary exercise
testing (CPX), exist for this purpose. To ensure the maximum
effectiveness from the EST, it should be performed to national standards
derived from current best practice.
Although EST is considered a safe procedure, complications such as
acute myocardial infarction and ventricular arrhythmias may occur.
Whilst the statistical possibility of an adverse event is low the severity of
the event outcome further highlights the importance of following
nationally approved standards.
The recommendations presented within this document are intended for
use in any environment where an EST is required.
These recommendations are not intended to apply to paediatric exercise
testing, cardio-pulmonary exercise testing, pharmacological studies, or
radionuclide studies. These investigations require further standards
beyond the scope of this document. However the guidance presented in
this document could provide useful information for these investigations .
2.
Scope
This guidance is aimed at clinical electrocardiography exercise tolerance
testing for adult subjects.
3.
Indications
The indications for EST are presented in Table 1 below:Table 1
1. Diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with chest pain
that is atypical for myocardial ischaemia
2. Assessment of functional capacity and prognosis of patients with
known CAD
3. Assessment of prognosis and functional capacity of patients with CAD
soon after uncomplicated myocardial infarction (before hospital discharge
or early after discharge)
4. Evaluation of patients with symptoms consistent with recurrent,
exercise-induced cardiac arrhythmias
5. Assessment of functional capacity of selected patients with
congenital or valvular heart disease
6. Evaluation of patients with rate-responsive pacemakers
7. Evaluation of asymptomatic men >40 years with special occupations
(airline pilots, bus drivers, etc)
8. Evaluation of asymptomatic individuals >40 years with two or more
risk factors for CAD
9. Evaluation of sedentary individuals (men >45 years and women >55
years) with two or more risk factors who plan to enter a vigorous exercise
program
10. Assessment of functional capacity and response to therapy in
patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure
11 Monitoring progress and safety in conjunction with rehabilitation
after a cardiac event or surgical procedure
4.
Patient Referral
It is essential that only patients that are able to perform dynamic EST’s be
referred to the Cardiac Investigations Department.
Prior to low risk EST
A physical examination and clinical history should be performed by a
clinician with emphasis on excluding specific contradictions to low risk
EST. Confirmation of the suitability for the investigation must be
documented by completing the cardiac investigations request form.
The request form must be signed and dated by the referring GP, along
with Medical Council Number.
If the indication for the EST is not clear then the form will be returned to
the referring GP for further information.
Clarification of low and high risk EST
A low risk EST is classified as an EST that excludes the contraindications listed in Table 2 (Below), i.e. ‘low risk for an adverse cardiac
event’. These listed conditions are not exhaustive and other conditions
may be regarded as high risk. Such conditions are under the discretion of
the Cardiac Physiologist and referring physician. Referrals that
contravene these contraindications are regarded as high risk. All highrisk cases must be performed with an appropriately trained physician
present (patients with a history of increasing or unstable angina or heart
failure should not be exercised as low or high risk until their condition
has stabilised). The physician’s role is to provide immediate clinical
assessment of the patient and the administration of pharmacological
therapies if required.
It is important to note that the supervising Cardiac Physiologist has a duty
of care, prior to starting the test to ensure that the patient can perform the
EST safely. If the patient does not meet the criteria for the EST, the
Cardiac Physiologist will postpone the EST until the reasons for
postponement can be discussed with the referring GP.
Table 2 –Contra-indications to low-risk exercise stress testing
<1month post MI, post-PTCA/stent, postCABG
Hg)
ormalities that prevent ST analysis, (for
example left bundle branch block) Any queries contact Cardiac
Physiologist
is unfamiliar with the requirements from the Licensing Authority
•Raised Troponin level.
•. Uncontrolled Heart Failure