Indications, methodology, and classification of results of tilt-table testing

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 1999-10, Vol.84 (8), p.10-19
• Main Authors: Sutton, Richard, Bloomfield, Daniel M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Classification; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Medical diagnosis; Medical procedures; Medical sciences; Methods; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Predictive Value of Tests; Syncope, Vasovagal - diagnosis; Syncope, Vasovagal - physiopathology; Tilt-Table Test
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9149(99)00692-X

Tilt-table testing has become an important part of the evaluation of patients with unexplained syncope, although not every patient with vasovagal syncope requires it. Studies have attested to the effectiveness of the technique for providing direct diagnostic evidence of a patient’s susceptibility to vasovagal syncope. This article reviews the need for tilt-table testing and the recommended methods for performing a test. In addition, a detailed classification of the hemodynamic patterns of collapse displayed over the course of a tilt-table study is provided. These distinctive collapse patterns document the evolution of a syncopal event and are particularly important to identify because they can influence the selection of therapy.