Invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test

An invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test or iCPET is an invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test used to measure a number of factors including exertion intolerance and exercise capacity. An ICPET allows for cardiovascular, respiratory (breathing), and metabolic functions to be assessed during exercise. It is not used as a diagnostic test for ME/CFS.

Differences from a cardiopulmonary exercise test
An invasive CPET differs from a non-invasive CPET in that two catheters (thin tubes) are inserted into veins and kept in place during the exercise test to provide additional information, and may be used to withdraw some blood.

One catheter is placed in a large vein, usually in the arm, neck or below the collarbone, and used to take measurement from the pulmonary artery by using the tube to pass a balloon down the artery, and a second catheter is placed in the radial artery of one arm. This adds additional risks compared to a noninvasive CPET.

Learn more

 * Pulmonary artery catheterization - Johns Hopkins Medicine