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Patients & Visitors

Cardiac Centre Clinics

Tilt Table Test

Indications for Head-up tilt testing

  • Syncope
  • Pre-syncope
  • Recurrent unexplained falls
  • Convulsive syncope
  • Orthostatic hypotension
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
  • Carotid Sinus Hypersensitivity (CSM)

Contra-indications for Head-up tilt testing

  • Pregnancy
  • Inability to stand for 30 mins
  • Noncompliance (including under the influence of alcohol)
  • Severe left ventricular out flow obstruction (HOCM/Severe aortic stenosis)
  • Critical mitral stenosis
  • Severe known proximal coronary artery disease
  • Recent stroke

What is a tilt table test?

It involves lying on a couch which is then raised at the head so that you end up almost standing but leaning back at 60-degree angle. You remain in this position for about 45 minutes.

Your feet are resting on a foot rest and we place straps around your waist and thighs to ensure you feel secure.

During this time, you will be connected to ECG and blood pressure (arm and finger) and you will be then monitored continuously throughout the test.

When is it done?

Tilt table test is performed every week by a Nurse Led Cath Lab Nurse and a Cardiac Physiologist at the Cardiac Centre (B59)

Where do we get referrals from?

  • Referral letter from GP - triaged by a consultant cardiologist
  • Neurologists
  • Cardiology outpatient clinic

What happens next?

After your tilt table test, the results will be given to the consultant cardiologist who will then contact you and your referring doctor.

Cardiac Centre B59, 3rd Floor Central, Zone B


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