Services

At Pediatric Cardiology Associates of Houston, we offer the following tests and procedures. For the convenience of the families we serve, many of these can be performed at the time of your visit in our office. When warranted, we use hospital outpatient or inpatient service for more sophisticated tests and procedures.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

An ambulatory blood pressure monitor is a small, portable device that records an individual’s blood pressure at variable intervals over a 24-48 hour time period. It is useful in the evaluation and treatment of hypertension. Our office is equipped with ambulatory blood pressure monitors to allow for a thorough assessment of your child’s health.

Arrhythmia diagnosis and management

An arrhythmia is an electrical disturbance of the heart. Common arrhythmias in pediatric patients include premature ventricular or atrial contractions, as well as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). All of our physicians are experts in the diagnosis and management of pediatric arrhythmias.

Cardiac event monitoring

A cardiac event monitor is a small, portable device that can be used to record a patient’s heart rhythm during symptoms such as palpitations or chest pain. Typically cardiac event monitoring is used in situations where a patient's symptoms may be relatively infrequent. Our office generally provides cardiac event monitoring for a time period of at least one month.

Cardiovascular risk education

Risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and premature coronary artery disease include hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and a family history of early heart disease. Our physicians are happy to provide you with assistance in screening for risk factors, as well as provide counseling for those patients in whom an increased risk is identified.

Cholesterol screening and education

An elevated cholesterol or triglyceride level can be a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis later in life. More and more frequently elevated lipid levels are being identified in children and teenagers. Our office offers comprehensive evaluation and management of young people with lipid disorders.

Congenital heart disease diagnosis/management

All of our physicians are experts in the field of congenital heart disease diagnosis, evaluation, and management. Some of the more complex forms of heart disease that we treat include hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary valve atresia, pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis, atrioventricular canal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, Ebstein’s anomaly, and coarctation of the aorta, as well as many other forms of heart disease. We are also experts in heart rhythm disorders such as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

We will provide informative and compassionate counseling to you and your family. When necessary, we will arrange for further consultation with a congenital heart surgeon should you desire.

Diagnostic/interventional cardiac catheterization

A cardiac catheterization is a procedure by which a catheter (a long, thin, flexible tube) is passed into the heart to allow for more exact testing than noninvasive studies can provide. Cardiac catheterizations are performed in a hospital setting with the use of sedation or anesthesia. We offer full cardiac catheterization services at Pediatric Heart Specialists.

Electrocardiography (ECG)

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a recording of the electrical forces in the heart. It allows for the detection of heart rhythm abnormalities such as supraventricular tachycardia or atrioventricular block. It can be done on children of any age and is completely painless.

Holter monitoring

A Holter monitor is a device which records a patient’s heart rhythm for a 24-hour period of time. It is typically used to detect heart rhythm disturbances which may not be picked up by an ECG.

Hypertension management

Hypertension (elevated blood pressure) represents one of several risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease later in life. More and more frequently hypertension is being identified as a problem in young people. The physicians at Pediatric Heart Specialists are experts in the evaluation and management of pediatric hypertension.

Stress testing

A stress test involves a patient exercising for a certain amount of time during which certain vital parameters are monitored such as heart rate and rhythm, ECG, and blood pressure. Stress testing is useful in the evaluation of numerous different symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness. It can also help assess the overall fitness of a child or young adult. Our office provides all the necessary equipment to perform a thorough stress test on your child.

Transthoracic echocardiography

A transthoracic echocardiogram (or “echo” for short) is simply an ultrasound of the heart. A transducer which emits sound beams is placed on the child's chest to clearly visualize the heart structures. An echo is a completely painless procedure which typically takes between 15 and 30 minutes to complete. It is used most commonly to evaluate for possible structural defects of the heart. In our office, echoes are performed by both physicians as well as technicians in a calm and relaxing atmosphere for your child. Our rooms are equipped with televisions and DVD players to ease any stress that your child may experience.