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A tilt table test is used to diagnose the cause of fainting or lightheadedness. The patient is strapped to a table and tilted to simulate standing up. If the patient does not pass out, a drug is administered to increase stress levels. The test is safe and painless, and patients should plan to spend about an hour and a half in the testing and recovery period.
A tilt table test (TTT or head-up tilt test) is a medical test performed in the process of diagnosing the cause of frequent fainting or lightheadedness. If the test is successful, it can indicate why a patient feels lightheaded or unconscious, and this information can be used in medical treatment. If the test is not successful, it means that further diagnostic tests will be needed to get to the root of the patient’s medical condition.
In a tilt table test, the patient is strapped to a table and connected to an electrocardiograph (ECG). Then, the table is rapidly tilted up to simulate going from a lying to a standing position. In a normal patient, the heart would respond to this change in position to keep blood pressure stable. In a patient with cardiovascular problems or a nervous system problem, the heart would not respond quickly enough and the patient would pass out.
If the tilt test is performed and the patient does not pass out, they will be returned to the prone position for administration of a drug designed to increase stress levels. The test will be repeated to see if the patient responds by passing out, suggesting that the problem may be related to experiencing strain and stress.
As a general rule, this medical test is very safe for the patient, even if it can be scary. Patients are closely monitored to ensure that the medical team can intervene if the patient needs assistance and, even if the patient loses consciousness, he is firmly strapped into position and in no danger of falling. Because the tilt table test is performed in a hospital, medical personnel have access to medications and other supportive measures should they be needed.
This test is not painful and does not require much preparation. A doctor may ask a patient to fast or eat specifically in preparation for the test. When the patient arrives, they may be left in street clothes or asked to change into a hospital gown, depending on hospital policies. The leads for the ECG are painless, and the test itself doesn’t take long. Patients should plan to spend about an hour and a half in the testing and recovery period and should secure a ride home, because a tilt table test can leave people dizzy or lightheaded.
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