The Cardiac Center at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital
Cardiac Imaging
The Cardiac Center at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital performs several
types of non-invasive diagnostic tests at a location called the Pediatric
Heart Station. It features a pleasant waiting area for visitors, along with
several consultation rooms and private exam rooms to enhance the comfort
of patients and their families.
The Pediatric Heart Station is where you will find patients of all ages, including some who haven’t been born yet. That’s because echocardiography (also known as cardiac imaging) plays a major role in identifying congenital heart problems in fetuses as well as in babies, children and adults.
What Is Echocardiography?
Echocardiography is a diagnostic procedure that creates images of a patient’s
heart with the help of ultrasonic sound waves. Using a device called a
transducer, a cardiac sonographer experienced in children’s heart problems
aims ultrasonic sound waves through the patient’s skin and in the direction
of the heart. When the waves bounce back, the transducer sends the “echo”
data to a computer that generates an image of the heart which is then analyzed
for diagnostic purposes.
Echocardiography can be performed in various ways:
- In transthoracic echocardiography, the transducer is held directly against the chest.
- In transesophageal echocardiography, the transducer is gently inserted into the patient’s throat using a special probe.
- If a woman is pregnant with a child that is suspected of having a heart defect, fetal echocardiography can be performed either transabdominally or transvaginally.
Perinatal Cardiology
Most patients visit the Pediatric Heart Station after they exhibit signs
or symptoms of cardiac dysfunction. Pregnant women, however, are referred
here by their obstetrician or perinatologist when routine ultrasound tests
indicate a possible heart defect in the unborn child.
Lilliam Valdes-Cruz, MD, is an internationally renowned physician and scientist in the specialized field of pediatric cardiac imaging. As an expert in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, she collaborates directly with her surgical and interventional colleagues of The Cardiac Center in the operating room and cardiac catheterization laboratory to provide the best possible outcome. As Director of Non-Invasive Pediatric Cardiology Services and Medical Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory, she frequently counsels expectant parents about congenital heart problems in their unborn children and the types of treatment available during gestation and immediately after birth.
”A major innovation in the field of cardiology in the last 30 years has been our ability to image the heart non-invasively, thus allowing diagnosis and frequent cardiac monitoring without side effects or the need for painful procedures. I would say that this is one of the technological advancements that has led to a fundamental difference in the lifestyle of infants and children with heart disease.”
Other Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tests
Echocardiography is just one of the many diagnostic options available to
physicians. Click on each link to learn more:
- Electrocardiograms (EKG)
- Holter monitoring
- Stress tests
- Tilt tests
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography scan (CT scan)
- Ultrafast/electron beam CT scan
EKGs, Holter monitoring, stress tests and tilt tests are performed at the Pediatric Heart Station at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. MRI, CT and ultrafast CT scans are performed at Memorial Regional Hospital and are arranged through the Pediatric Heart Station.
Our staff will gladly answer your questions about these tests and, if necessary, provide you with special instructions on how to prepare for them.
