Supervision and Safety Precautions for Exercise Testing

Exercise testing in pediatric patients and older patients with congenital heart disease is a very low-risk undertaking. Risks may be minimized by providing the exercise laboratory with appropriate safety equipment, providing the staff with appropriate training and education, and ensuring that adequate supervision and backup is available when needed. High-risk patients may be identified on the basis of clinical criteria, prior to exercise testing. The precautions and resources needed to ensure patient safety can then be mobilized in a timely and efficient manner.