Tilt table test
Tilt table test is a medical procedure often used to diagnose dysautonomia or syncope. It involves the patient being placed on a table with a foot-support, the table is then tilted to raise the body and simulate a change in position from lying down to standing up.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
The tilt table test primarily aims to identify one of the most common causes of fainting, known as neurally mediated syncope. During the test, the patient is strapped to a table which is then tilted to simulate standing up. The patient's blood pressure and heart rate are monitored throughout the test to observe the body's cardiovascular response to the change in position.
The test begins with the patient lying flat on the table. After a period of about 5 to 10 minutes, the table is then tilted to raise the patient to an almost standing position (head-up tilt). This angle varies between 60 to 80 degrees. The patient remains in this position for up to 45 minutes, while their blood pressure and heart rate are continuously monitored. This helps to identify any drastic changes that might indicate a condition like orthostatic hypotension or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Indications[edit | edit source]
The tilt table test is typically ordered for patients who have repeated, unexplained episodes of fainting. It is particularly useful in diagnosing conditions that are known to cause fainting, including orthostatic hypotension, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and other forms of dysautonomia. It can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for these conditions.
Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]
While the tilt table test is generally safe, it does carry some risks. These include fainting during the test and experiencing the symptoms you might have during a fainting episode, such as nausea or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). In rare cases, the test might need to be stopped early due to severe symptoms.
See Also[edit | edit source]
 | This medical article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
