The head-up tilt table test is performed in a special room called the EP (electrophysiology) lab.
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How Should I Prepare for the Head-Up Tilt Table Test?
If you're scheduled for a head-up tilt table test, you should:
- Take all your medications as prescribed.
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before your test. If you must take medications, drink only small sips of water to help you swallow your pills.
- When you come for your test, bring with you a list of all your current medications, including the dose.
- When you come to the hospital, wear comfortable clothes. It is best not to wear any jewelry or bring valuables.
- Plan to have someone drive you home after the test.
- If you have diabetes, ask for specific instructions on taking your medications and eating/drinking before the procedure.
What Should I Expect During the Head-Up Tilt Table Test?
The head-up tilt table test usually takes one to two hours to complete. However, that may vary depending on the changes observed in your blood pressure and heart rate and the symptoms you experience during the test. Before the test begins, a nurse will help you get ready. The nurse will start an IV (intravenous) line. This is so the doctors and nurses may give you medications and fluids during the procedure if necessary.
You will be awake during the test. You will be asked to lie quietly and keep your legs still.
The nurse will connect you to four monitors. They include:
- Defibrillator/pacemaker. This monitor is attached to one sticky patch placed on the center of your back and one on your chest as a precautionary measure. The device allows the doctor and nurse to pace your heart rate if it is too slow or deliver energy to your heart if the rate is too fast.
- Electrocardiogramor ECG. The ECG is attached to several sticky electrode patches placed onto your chest as well as catheters placed inside your heart. It provides a picture on graph paper of the electrical impulses traveling through your heart.
- Oximeter monitor. The oximeter is attached to a small clip on your finger. It checks the oxygen level of your blood.
- Blood pressure monitor. The monitor is connected to a blood pressure cuff on your arm. It checks your blood pressure intermittently throughout the study.