CARDIAC-ARRHYTHMIAS ASSOCIATED WITH TREADMILL CLAUDICATION TESTING

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 83  (3) , 284-287
Abstract
Consecutive patients (81) of an average age of 58 yr with suspected lower limb arterial disease underwent standard 5 min treadmill claudication testing. Prior to, during and after testing the patients were monitored ECG. The number of ECG abnormalities seen in 81 patients undergoing study increased from 33 at rest to 49 with exercise. The commonest abnormalities encountered with exercise were the development and increased incidence of paroxysmal beats and ST-T wave changes which, in some instances, became life-threatening, aborting the test. Since the principal hazard for patients with claudication appears to derive from an increased propensity to cardiac mortality and morbidity, rather than from the consequences of impaired circulation to the limb, ECG monitoring during treadmill claudication testing, though little practiced, is strongly advised.

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