What Is Pediatric Cardiology?
Pediatric cardiology is a cardiology specialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating infants, children, teens, and young adults with heart conditions.
What conditions do you treat?
Our pediatric cardiologists treat a range of congenital and acquired conditions, including:
Who’s eligible for pediatric cardiology?
Children and young adults diagnosed with a heart condition are eligible for pediatric cardiology care.
What Pediatric Cardiology Services Do You Offer?
Our pediatric cardiologists provide comprehensive cardiovascular care for your child throughout childhood and adolescence. We offer a full range of services tailored to the unique needs of young patients, including:
Diagnostic care
In addition to a consultation with one of our skilled pediatric cardiologists, new patients have access to the most advanced diagnostic testing:
- Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET/CT) — This test detects areas of decreased blood flow in the heart while administering less radiation to patients.
- Coronary computed tomography angiogram (CCTA) — A coronary computed tomography angiogram is a non-invasive 3D imaging test to detect blockages in the coronary arteries.
- Echocardiography (ECHO) — An echocardiogram is a widely used test that creates moving images of your heart and measures how well your heart works.
- Nuclear cardiac studies — Nuclear cardiac studies show how your heart pumps and how your blood flows under stress. UPMC uses a 64-slice CT scanner and a D-SPECT® nuclear cardiology camera for nuclear cardiac studies.
- Cardiac MRI — Cardiac MRI uses magnets and radio frequencies to create detailed images of your heart, valves, and blood vessels.
- Electrocardiograms (EKGs) — Doctors place patches on your skin. These patches connect through wires to a machine that measures your heart's electrical activity.
- Fetal echocardiograms — Fetal echocardiograms are an advanced imaging technique used while the child is still in the womb.
- Holter monitors — This at-home EKG tracks your heart for 24 to 48 hours, capturing data about how your heart is working.
Ongoing management
If the condition does not cause symptoms, your pediatric cardiologist may recommend regular check-ups to address any problems that may develop.
We provide ongoing management of heart conditions, including coordinating your child's care with other pediatric specialists, such as maternal-fetal medicine physicians and pediatric surgeons, if needed.
Our pediatric cardiology specialists also offer consultation and follow-up care into adulthood for children with congenital heart disease.
Medicine to treat adult congenital heart disease
For mild complications, your pediatric cardiologist may recommend:
- Anticongestive medications that reduce congestion in the blood vessels in the lungs.
- Anticoagulant drugs that help prevent blood clots.
- Medications to control heart rate or rhythm problems.
Surgery
Depending on the type of condition your child has, your pediatric cardiologist may recommend surgical procedures including:
- Implantable defibrillator — If you have a serious heart rhythm problem that medication cannot control, your doctor may recommend an implantable defibrillator. This device monitors your heart for abnormal heartbeats and sends a small shock to restore normal rhythm if needed.
- Implantable pacemaker — Your doctor may recommend a pacemaker to help control your heart rhythm.
- Minimally invasive surgical repair — UPMC doctors can offer minimally invasive heart surgery to treat holes in the heart and other heart conditions.
- Open-heart surgery — If your heart defect can’t be treated with minimally invasive techniques, your doctor may recommend open-heart surgery.
- Heart transplant — For cases of severe heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, or cyanosis, your doctors may recommend a heart transplant evaluation.
What Can I Expect From Pediatric Cardiology?
Our team of pediatric cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and other experts will create a comprehensive plan to manage your child’s condition and reduce the risk of complications.
Before your visit
To prepare for your child’s visit, you will be asked to provide:
- Name, address, and contact phone number.
- Insurance information.
- Relevant medical records and test results.
- A referral, if required by your health insurance company.
If you get a referral from your primary care doctor or another physician, they may be able to provide your test results and medical records to our team.
During your visit
When you arrive for your first appointment, you'll meet with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. He or she will ask about your child’s medical history and perform an exam.
We'll give you a:
- A complete explanation of your child’s condition and treatment.
- A tailored patient education packet for you to take home.
Your health care provider will explain your treatment options based on how long your child has had symptoms and your child’s condition and health history.
Together, we will design and agree on a care plan.
Your care team may also:
- Order tests to learn more about your child’s condition.
- Schedule a procedure in the hospital.
After your child’s treatment
Our team will schedule follow-up appointments to check how your child’s treatment is working or monitor your child’s condition. You should contact our office if:
- You have questions about your child’s treatment plan or medications.
- Your child’s symptoms get worse or do not improve as expected.
- You have any other concerns about your child’s condition.
