Exercise tests are thought to mimic the postoperative increase in oxygen consumption and have been used to select patients at high risk of cardiopulmonary complications after thoracic, but also abdominal surgery. The aim of exercise tests is to stress the whole cardiopulmonary system and estimate the physiological reserve that may be available after lung resection. The most used and best validated exercise parameter is V’O2, max. In the literature, V’O2, max appears to be a very strong predictor of postoperative complications, as well as a good predictor of long-term post-operative exercise capacity. .
