title: [Life-threatening complications of ergometry].
abstract: During the four most common ergometric exercise tests--bicycle ergometry seated and lying, step exercise testing and treadmill ergometry--such life-threatening complications as ventricular fibrillation, pulmonary edema or myocardial infarction occur to a varying degree. As a typical complication of bicycle ergometry with the patient lying, pulmonary edema, which can be explained by an increase in the venous return in the supine patient, has been observed in 1:29,000 cases. Ventricular fibrillation is particularly common in treadmill ergometry, possibly as a consequence of CNS-derived stimuli provoking arrhythmias due to this type of ergometry which may cause anxiety in some patients. Myocardial infarction, and also death--usually as a result of acute infarction--are also seen much more commonly in treadmill exercise testing (1:2,800 and 1:20,000, respectively) than in bicycle ergometry with the patient seated or supine. The step exercise test is associated with an infarction rate of 1:43,000, and a mortality rate of 1:128,000, and is thus a comparatively safe form of exercise testing. Maximum loading of the patient and the mode of the exercise test (test protocol) appear to have no influence on the complication rate. A careful prior examination including history-taking, the presence of a physician and a standby defibrillator are a must.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Mildenberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaltenbach
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality*
vernacular_title: Lebensbedrohliche Komplikationen der Ergometrie.