ATS Pulmonary Function Laboratory Manual

ATS Pulmonary Function Laboratory Management & Procedure Manual | 3rd Edition

Table 18.1(11)

Reported uses of performing the 6MWT

Pretreatment and post-treatment comparisons

• Lung transplantation • Lung resection • Lung volume reduction surgery • Pulmonary rehabilitation • COPD • Pulmonary hypertension • Heart failure • COPD • Cystic fibrosis • Heart failure • Peripheral vascular disease

Functional status (single measurement)

• Fibromyalgia • Older patients

Predictor of morbidity and mortality

• Heart failure • COPD • Primary pulmonary hypertension • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Table 18.2

Contraindications for performing the 6MWT:

Absolute contraindications

Unstable angina in the previous month Myocardial infraction in the previous month

Relative contraindications

Resting diastolic blood pressure >100 mm Hg or resting systolic blood pressure >180 mm Hg. Resting pulse rate >120

The following equipment is used for the 6MWT: 1. A stopwatch 2.

Mechanical counter or other method to count laps

3.

Markers to identify the course

4. Borg dyspnea scale (12) (a Visual Analog Scale can also be used; see Appendix 1) 5. Chair or wheel chair 6. Pad of worksheets on a clipboard 7. Sphygmomanometer and appropriately sized cuffs (13) 8. Access to an automatic electronic defibrillator 9. Telephone 10. Pulse oximeter, if requested (pulse oximetry is not a required element) (11)

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