Tilt table test

What is a tilt table test?

A tilt table test allows us to change your position to see how your heart rate, rhythm, and blood pressure respond. You will be strapped comfortably to a table, hooked to an ECG monitor, and tilted slowly when appropriate. During the test, we’ll monitor your readings to detect irregularities when changing positions. 

This test aims to replicate your symptoms so we can better understand why you may be having these experiences. It is typically performed to determine the cause of fainting or why you feel faint when moving from sitting to standing.

Procedure

Before starting the test, we will ask you to lie down on a flat board bed, and straps will be placed across your body to hold you in place. We will then place sticky electrodes across your chest, legs, and arms. These are connected wire leads hooked up to an ECG monitor device. You may also be connected to a blood pressure cuff and an oxygen saturation probe.

We will assess your vital signs while you are lying flat. Then, the table will be mechanically tilted to an upright position, without any effort from you, as you are secured in place.

You may be monitored at different angles (30, 45, and 70 degrees) for 10-15 minutes and assessed in a still, standing position for 10-60 minutes. 

If you don’t have any symptoms after 45 minutes, we may do a variation of the test.  We will inject you with medicine that speeds up your heart rate and triggers your nervous system, making symptoms more noticeable. After you receive the medicine, we will tilt the table up to 60 degrees for 15 minutes.

During the test, for the most accurate test results, you should:

• Stay as still as possible during the test
• Don’t move your legs while you’re in the standing position
• Try not to talk unless absolutely necessary and keep quiet during the test

Preparation

This is a non-invasive procedure so won’t need much preparation beforehand.

We will advise you not to have any food or drink 2-3 hours before the procedure to avoid feeling nauseous. On the day of the test, we also recommend not consuming anything with caffeine, as this can interfere with the results.

If you take prescription medication, you can take your usual course as normal unless specified. We advise you not to take laxatives before the appointment if you are currently taking this medication.

We advise you to wear loose, comfortable clothing that you can easily remove so we can place the electrodes on your body. We may put you in a gown if you aren’t wearing appropriate clothing for the test. You may want to bring a spare pair of clothes just in case you are unwell or experience an accident during the procedure.

Risks and side effects

The risks and side effects of this test are minimal. However, as we try to recreate your symptoms, you may experience dizziness, feeling faint, or even fainting. You may also feel nauseous and even be sick (vomit) from the experience.

The purpose of the test isn’t to make you faint. However, depending on how you respond to the test, you may faint. Some people can’t control their bladder when they faint, so you may release urine (pee) if you do faint during the procedure.

In extremely rare cases, those who have narrowed coronary arteries or carotid arteries may be at risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

Results and aftercare

After the test, we will lie you flat for 5-10 minutes to ensure you are okay and have recovered from the procedure. We will also take readings of your blood pressure, heart rate, and rhythm while lying down.

You won’t be able to drive for the rest of the day. After the procedure, you will need help getting home, so you should arrange for somebody to drive you.

You can eat normally after the test unless other tests are scheduled that require you to fast.

We will evaluate your results and assess whether you’ve had a positive or negative tilt test. A positive test means you may have a condition that affects your heart.

We will decide the best course of treatment depending on what we discover.