Impedance cardiography for the assessment of hemodynamic response during cardiopulmonary exercise test in a patient with heart failure – a case report

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes using the impedance cardiography during cardiopulmonary exercise test in a male patient with heart failure. Ramp protocol was performed. Target heart rate was achieved at 159 W of workload. The VO₂ peak was 20 ml/kg/min; VO₂ (AT) - 9 ml/kg/min; and V`E (V`CO2) slope - 33.1. Hemodynamic trends of stroke volume and contractility index showed that the deflection point was 100 s earlier than maximum workload. Monitoring of hemodynamic response during exercise test by impedance cardiography enables detection abnormalities in cardiac performance during exercise test before classic termination criteria are achieved.