Echocardiogram
An Echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. This test is usually done by the physician in the office. Warmed gel is placed on the patient’s chest, and a special probe is used to create sound waves that produce a moving image of the patient’s beating heart on the screen. From this, a physician can determine the thickness, size, and function of the heart, as well as the structure of the four heart valves.
Sedated Echo
There are times when the physician feels that it is necessary to sedate your child in order to get an accurate Echocardiogram. This is usually due to the age of your child and how cooperative they are. It is important to get an accurate study completed to make a correct diagnosis of your child’s condition.