Figure 2. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in a patient with severe organic mitral regurgitation: peak VO2 = 2.093 l/min or 24 ml/min/kg (57% of predicted value). First ventilatory threshold at 1.125 l/min (53% of actual peak VO2, 30% of predicted peak VO2) reached at heart rate = 103 bpm and 55W load. Circulatory power = 4272 mmHg*ml/min. VE/VCO2 slope = 23. Half-time (time interval during which VO2 declines to half its peak value during recovery) = 76 sec. VO2 curve with continual rise.