Children's Cardiology Group
Pediatric Cardiologists located in Orange, CA & Mission Viejo, CA
If your child has symptoms of a cardiac health problem, cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that can help your cardiologist diagnose the issue. At Children’s Cardiology Group in Orange, Newport Beach and Mission Viejo, California, the team of pediatric cardiology specialists provides cardiac catheterizations to both diagnose cardiac health problems and perform procedures like stenting and ablation. If you need expert pediatric cardiology care, call Children’s Cardiology Group or schedule a consultation online today.
Cardiac Catheterization Q & A
What is cardiac catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure that allows your cardiologist to examine the inside of your child’s blood vessels and heart. Instead of making a large incision in your child’s chest, your cardiologist can feed a catheter through one of their blood vessels (most often in the leg) and into their heart.
The team of board-certified pediatric cardiologists uses cardiac catheterization both to diagnose health problems and to perform interventional procedures to repair issues like abnormal electrical activity, a faulty heart valve, or a blocked blood vessel.
What are the signs that my child needs a cardiac catheterization?
Some of the signs of a mild to moderate cardiovascular health problem in a child include:
- Becoming short of breath easily
- Getting tired quickly during exercise
- Fainting during exercise
- Abnormal electrical activity
- If your child has a severe heart condition, their skin might look blue or gray. Infants might struggle to breathe during feedings and not gain weight.
What are cardiac catheterizations used for?
Cardiac catheterization has a wide range of applications. Some of the tests include:
- Looking for narrowed blood vessels
- Measuring oxygen levels in different heart chambers
- Measuring pressure in different heart chambers and blood vessels
- Diagnosing congenital abnormalities
- Identifying abnormal heart valves
Biopsy
In addition to these diagnostic applications, the team can also perform several procedures during cardiac catheterization. They can widen narrowed arteries and place stents. They can also close holes or replace valves. Your cardiologist can also perform ablation to regulate abnormal electrical activity and heart rhythms.
What happens during a cardiac catheterization?
During cardiac catheterization, your child has appropriate anesthesia to keep them relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure. Your cardiologist begins by making a small incision in their groin and places a small tube in the opening.
Then, they feed the catheter through the tube and your child’s blood vessels into the heart. Once the catheter is in place, your cardiologist completes the diagnostic testing interventional procedure.
After the cardiac catheterization is complete, your child spends some time recovering while the anesthesia wears off. In some cases, you can take your child home on the same day, but depending on their condition and the procedure, your cardiologist might recommend that they spend a day or two in the hospital recovering. Your doctor provides personalized instructions on at-home recovery and returning to regular activities.
Call Children’s Cardiology Group or schedule a consultation online today if you need expert pediatric cardiology services.