Feasibility of the Six-Minute Walk Test for Patients Who Have Cystic Fibrosis, Are Ambulatory, and Require Mechanical Ventilation Before Lung Transplantation.

Background And Purpose: The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a requirement for lung transplantation evaluation by the United Network for Organ Sharing. A subset of patients being evaluated for a lung transplantation require mechanical ventilation (MV) because of respiratory failure. The 6MWT has not been validated as an outcome measure for patients dependent on MV.

Case report: exercise in a patient with acute decompensated heart failure receiving positive inotropic therapy.

Background And Purpose: The projected increase in persons with advanced heart failure and associated costs warrant the examination of exercise in patients receiving inotropic therapy. Literature supports the use of exercise and inotropic therapy in the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. The purposes of this paper are to illustrate the use of exercise prescription and outcomes assessment with a 6-minute walk test in a patient with acute decompensated heart failure receiving tailored therapy with dobutamine and to discuss potential relationships resulting in observed improvements.