What can you expect when you go to see the paediatric cardiologist?
Being told that you or your child
might have a birth defect of the heart can be a very stressful situation.
Remember that often the suspicion of a heart defect might turn out to be wrong
and there might be nothing wrong with your or your child’s heart. Even if there
is a problem with the heart it is minor in the majority of patients and may
require no treatment or only oral medication.
During your visit to the paediatric
cardiologist your child will be weighed and height ed Observations including
heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen level (oxygen saturation) will be
carried out by the clinic nurse. The doctor will examine the child’s heart and
then decide if further tests are needed.
The tests that are commonly carried
out include echocardiography (ultrasound scan of the heart), ECG or
electrocardiography (electrical tracing of the heart’s activity), Chest X-ray.
Occasionally the cardiologist may decide that cardiac catheterization
(explained in previous post) is required to further define the problem.
An echo-cardiogram is an ultrasound
scan of the heart (similar to the scan you may have had during pregnancy). This
scan helps to look at the heart structure and identify heart defects. It is
painless and totally non-invasive. Most children enjoy watching the picture of
the heart on the monitor and I liken it to watching TV! I also use this
opportunity to explain to the patient or family the various parts of the heart and
to point out the abnormalities. An ECG involves placing some electrodes on the
chest which help to trace the heart's activity on paper. This is particularly
useful when there is suspicion of a problem with heart rhythm.
Once tests have been performed the
doctor will be able to explain the problem if there is one or reassure you that
all is well. Sometimes further tests may be required. You may or may not need
medications or other forms of treatment
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