At Cigarroa Clinic, our pediatric cardiologist is an expert in diagnosing and managing heart conditions in children. Among the most prevalent concerns in pediatric cardiology are congenital heart abnormalities, affecting approximately one in every 100 babies in the United States. Examples of such abnormalities include Ventricular Septal Defect, Atrioventricular Septal Defect, and Tetralogy of Fallot, among others.
While some of these conditions are mild, about a quarter of them are deemed critical, necessitating surgery within the first year of life. The good news is, due to advancements in pediatric cardiology, nearly 70% of children diagnosed with critical congenital heart defects will see their 18th birthday. In addition to congenital issues, our pediatric cardiologist also addresses acquired heart disorders that develop post-birth, such as arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and Kawasaki disease. Every step of the way, our specialist collaborates closely with seasoned pediatric heart surgeons, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our young patients.
Individuals who had congenital heart disease repairs as a child or infant. Lifelong follow-up with a pediatric cardiologist is essential for these patients to ensure continued heart health.
For expectant mothers, we offer specialized fetal echocardiograms. Reasons for this service might include:
This important study creates ultrasound pictures of your heart and evaluates the heart muscle and valves. It can detect poorly functioning valves, extra fluid around the heart an look at the valves between the upper and lower chambers.
• Procedure to measure blood flow and valve function
• Produces an ejection fraction—a percentage that indicates how much blood is pumped out of the left bottom chamber (ventricle)
• Takes 20 minutes
• Non-invasive
A fetal cardiac ultrasound is an advanced imaging procedure designed to closely examine the heart of a fetus. This specialized assessment, typically beyond the scope of routine evaluations performed by an obstetrician, is essential when a more comprehensive evaluation of the heart is required. Detecting heart irregularities early in fetal development enables families and medical teams to plan optimally for the baby’s arrival. Throughout this diagnostic procedure, ultrasound specialists employ high-frequency sound waves to produce dynamic images of the baby’s heart, offering insights into its structure, function, and blood circulation.
