Tilt-Table test:

The tilt-table test is a non Expensive test conducted to find the reasons for fainting, as the name explains this test is done on a tilt table by placing a patient on a table with a foot-support, then tilting the table upward. It would start with horizontal and then to complete vertical. The patient’s Blood pressure, pulse and symptoms are monitored throughout the test.

Necessity of Tilt-Table test:

It is designed to detect one of the most common causes of fainting or lightheadedness, it may be done in scenarios were heart disease is not suspected of being responsible for an attack of fainting (syncope) or near-syncope.

Precautions:

There are few precautions with this kind of test. Precautions depend on the kind of drug used and the precautions for the kind of drug should be observed. Using of non-prescription drugs for asthma, cough, cold, or allergy; appetite suppressants; sleeping pills and also the allergies to any sympathomimetic drugs needs to be informed to the physician. The physician should be told of any serious heart-rhythm disorders.

Description:

Syncope is explained as a pathological brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary deficiency of oxygen in the brain. The effectiveness of tilt table testing in establishing the diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope, and in dictating therapy in patients with syncope of unknown origin is prominent.

Preparation:

The patient needs to be informed about the procedure and there are prior questions that needs to be asked before the procedure, which will help the patients to determine the benefits, risk, cost and alternatives. The patient should know the purpose of the test and ask questions if the test is positive, to know the frequency of false-positive results for that procedure.

Aftercare:

After the procedure the patient is brought to sitting position from the supine position and observed for a short period of time, if there is any symptom of dizziness-vertigo, they are noted and then the patient is transferred to a standing position. Later with additional observation and taking of vital signs the individual is sent.

Risks:

The risk in this test is low, but includes drastic changes in blood pressure in supine position of the test and reactions to any drugs observed during the tilt table test.

Normal & Abnormal results:

Normal results will help the physician to access what may or may not be the cause of the syncope and abnormal result like pathologic reactions to the position changes or sensitivity enhancing techniques, such as the administration of isoproterenol or other related drugs.