Tests and Treatments
Throughout your child's treatment at The Heart Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, some tests and interventions may be required. Following is a short explanation of the most common interventions.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- "ECG," "EKG," and "electrocardiogram" all refer to the same test, which is a simple and painless test that records the changes in the electrical activity of the heart on graph paper. This helps identify heart rhythm abnormalities. It can also tell about the size or thickness of the heart chambers and the relative position of the heart inside the chest.
- Chest X-Ray
- The X-ray takes images of the chest cavity to show the heart, lungs, bones and soft tissues. After the film is obtained, it is interpreted. Comparison with prior films is important, particularly in evaluating heart size and blood flow to the lungs. A report is made by a radiologist and becomes part of the patient's permanent record. The results are shared with both the cardiologist and the referring physician.
- Echocardiogram
- An echocardiogram (also called an "echo") is a type of ultrasound test that uses sound waves for viewing the heart. It is a safe and painless procedure that helps doctors diagnose heart problems. Pictures of your child's heart can be viewed on a small monitor while the procedure is being performed. It is a non-invasive test (no probes or needles), and everything is done on the outside of the body. It is similar to a sonogram that many women have before their child is born; however, the echocardiogram focuses on heart and blood vessels around the heart.
Children need to be very still during their echo. Therefore, most children ages 3 and under need to be asleep during the test and are given some sedation medicine beforehand to make them sleepy. In order for children to be sedated safely, they need to have an empty stomach before the test. Patients are not allowed to eat or drink anything a few hours before the test is scheduled. For more information, refer to the echocardiogram section of this manual. - Exercise Testing
- The exercise test is a valuable tool for gaining information about a child's heart, heart function and physical fitness. Tests of the heart are often done while patients are at rest, but most of the time people are active in their daily lives. Exercise testing can give information about how the heart responds to the extra demands of activity.
- Holter Monitor
- A Holter monitor is a 24-hour recording of the electrical activity of the heart. The monitor is a tool used to record the rate and rhythm of the heart. Irregularities such as fast heart rate (tachycardia), slow heart rate (bradycardia), and abnormal rhythms of the heart can be recorded. Because many irregularities of the heart rate or rhythm may not be present all of the time, a standard electrocardiogram may miss them. By recording the heart rate and rhythm continuously for 24 hours, there is a greater chance of detecting abnormalities.
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac catheterization is a procedure that involves puncturing an artery or a vein, usually located in the groin, and passing a thin, long, flexible tube (catheter) through the blood vessel. The catheter can be guided into the heart and major vessels around the heart. The catheter is moved through the heart with the aid of fluoroscopy (an x-ray machine). This is usually performed to help provide a diagnosis of heart problems.
Interventional catheterization is a type of cardiac catheterization where some heart repairs can be performed by the use of special catheters. These specialized catheters include balloon catheters that can open up narrowed valves or arteries and catheters which use devices to close extra vessels or certain "holes" in the heart. - Heart Surgery
- Your cardiologist may recommend that your child have heart surgery to repair a heart defect. When this is advised, your cardiologist will present your child's health information to our group of cardiac experts (including cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists). Once a plan of care is determined, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment to meet one of our surgeons and to talk about surgical options. You will also schedule a date for surgery at this time.
Types of Heart Surgery:
Closed - Operation performed on the blood vessels attached to the heart. Use of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine may not be required.
Open – Use of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine is required during the operation.
