Common Types of Cardiac Testing

What do you expect when you or your child visit a pediatric cardiologist? Well, there is an umpteen number of special procedures that a cardiologist may do to learn about your child’s heart.

Read each section below to learn more about each specific test.

Electrocardiogram: An EKG or ECG is a quick procedure where the doctor uses a device to examine the functioning of the heart. This procedure is useful for the observation of the heart rhythm abnormalities as well as the enlargement of the heart chambers.

Cardiac CT: A cardiac CT, also known as a CAT scan, is an imaging study that uses radiation to get detailed images of the anatomy of the heart and the surrounding blood vessels.

A cardiac CT (also known as a CAT scan) is a fast, painless imaging study that uses radiation to get detailed pictures of the anatomy of the heart and the surrounding blood vessels. Some CT scans might require contrast or dye given through an IV to so the chambers of the heart and the blood vessels light up. Your child will need to lie very still for a few minutes at a time over a 30-minute period, and younger patients sometimes need to be lightly sedated.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)

A TEE is a heart scan with endoscopy and provides a computerized picture of the heart in action. A small device with a camera is placed inside the esophagus (food pipe) to get a closer look at the heart. This test is usually done before and after open heart surgery, or if certain structures were not seen well on a traditional echocardiogram. Children receive some type of sedation for this test and are not able to eat or drink for up to 8 hours prior to the study.

Chest X-rays

The chest X-ray gives the pediatric cardiologist information about your child's lungs and the heart's size and shape. The amount of radiation from a chest X-ray is extremely small and doesn't cause any long-term side effects.

Cardiac MRI

MRI is another way to take pictures of the heart and measure function. It also avoids radiation and uses a painless, giant magnet to take high-resolution pictures of the heart in motion over about 30-60 minutes.

These are some of the cardiac testing procedures in Long Island. Contact a Cardiologist Testing  physician to know which is the right cardiac testing procedure for you depending on your heart and health condition.