Text II. Further Testing

Echocardiogram

This test, which is harmless and painless, uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your child’s heart. During an echocardiogram, reflected sound waves show the structure of the heart. The test allows the doctor to clearly see any problem with the way the heart is formed, and the way it’s working.

An echocardiogram is an important test for both diagnosing a heart problem and following the problem over the time. In children with congenital heart defects, an echocardiogram will outline the problems with the heart structure and show how the heart is reacting to these problems. The echocardiogram will help your child cardiologist if and what treatment is needed.

During pregnancy, if your doctor suspects that your baby has a congenital heart defect a special test called a fetal echocardiogram can be done. If your child is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect before birth, your doctor can plan treatment before the baby is born.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An ECG detects and records the electrical activity of the heart. An ECG show how fast the heart is beating and whether the heart rhythm is steady or irregular. It can also detect if one of the heart chambers is enlarged, which can help diagnose a heart problem.

Chest X-ray

A chest x-ray takes a picture of the heart and lungs. It may reveal cardiac enlargement and aortic dilation. It also assesses pulmonary circulation and shows whether the lungs have extra blood or fluid, which can be a sign of heart failure.

Pulse Oximetry

Pulse oximetry shows how much oxygen is in the blood. A sensor is places on the child’s fingertip or toe (like an adhesive bandage). The sensor is attached to a small computer unit, which displays a number that indicates how much oxygen is in the blood.

Cardiac catheterization

During cardiac catheterization, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is passed through a vein in the arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck to reach the heart. A dye that can be seen on an x-ray is injected through the catheter into a blood vessel or a chamber of the heart. This allows the doctor to see the flow of blood through the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiac catheterization also can be used to measure the pressure inside the heart and blood vessels and to determine whether blood is mixing between the two sides of the heart. It’s also used to repair some heart defects.

26. Read the text and make its abstract with the key words: