Tolerance to head-up tilt and suspension with elevated legs.

Abstract

During 50 degrees head-up tilt, half of 79 subjects near-fainted within 27 min, whereas elevation of the legs secured venous return to the heart and prevented presyncopal symptoms. The high rate of near-fainting in normal subjects should be taken into account during evaluation of patients with syncope, and it emphasizes the use of a position that secures venous return during transportation.