Noninvasive Cardiology Services (EKG & ECHO)

As the regions only dedicated pediatric noninvasive cardiology lab, we can provide unique services for kids’ special needs.  The noninvasive cardiology procedures we perform assist cardiologists in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease.  These diagnostic services can be provided in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Le Bonheur’s noninvasive outpatient lab is designed to provide the optimal setting for performing these procedures on kids.  The rooms are kid friendly with fun distractions to keep your kids at ease before and during the procedure.  When possible, you are allowed to stay in the room with your child during the procedure.  Under certain circumstances the physician may want your child to be asleep during the procedure.  For some young patients, the physician may request for your child to be sedated.

Services include:

Echocardiography (echo).  An echo is an ultrasound image of the heart.  This is done to view how the heart works.  We look at the structure, size, and blood flow through the heart.  Physicians typically order this test to make a diagnosis or for follow up.

• Transthoracic echocardiography is a common outpatient procedure.  Specialists’ place gel on the chest and then manually glide a transducer (camera) on the chest to capture images of the heart. 
• Transesophageal echocardiography is placing a camera down the child’s throat to get a view of the heart.  This procedure is done under sedation.  It is typically done in the operating room for assistance to the cardiac surgeon. 
• Intracardiac echocardiography is an invasive procedure done in the cath lab under sedation.  The physician places a very small catheter (camera) directly into the heart.  This is done to assist in device closures. 
• Fetal echocardiography is an ultrasound image of the heart of an unborn child.  Typically, your obstetrician will make a referral if he or she has questions or suspicions that your baby has an abnormal heart.  It is best to catch heart abnormalities in womb, so that you can make special arrangements if needed for immediate intervention. 

Le Bonheur employs two of the three registered fetal echocardiographers in the tri-state area.  Our lab is in the voluntary accreditation process to become the only fully accredited fetal echocardiography lab in a tri-state area.

Electrocardiography (EKG) gives a tracing of the electrical conduction of the heart.

• Electrocardiography (EKG) displays how the heart beats.  The test is done by placing electrodes (stickers) across the chest and on each arm and leg to pick up the beats of the heart.  The test takes approximately 10 minutes. 
• Holter monitor records 24 or 48 hours of continuous heart beats to look for an irregularities.   
• Event recorder is a long term monitoring device, similar to a holter.  The device works by the patient activating the monitor to record the heart beat when certain events are felt. 

Other outpatient tests include: 

• Tilt table / syncope study
• Graded exercise test
• Cardiopulmonary stress test