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Pediatric echocardiography has three types: fetal, transthoracic, and transesophageal. The most suitable approach depends on the patient and situation, and doctors may recommend additional tests like MRI for more information.
Three different types of pediatric echocardiography are available for patients and their families: fetal, transesophageal, and transthoracic. The most appropriate approach depends on the patient and the situation. When a doctor recommends a pediatric echocardiogram, often to learn more about congenital heart disease, they might discuss the options available and provide insight into the pros and cons. If there is a choice available, the patient and family can discuss the decision and request a specific type.
A fetal echocardiogram is needed for any type of prenatal examination of the heart. In this approach to pediatric echocardiography, the doctor looks at the baby’s heart inside the womb, using a high-resolution ultrasound machine to get a look at the heart. This requires special training and skills, because it can be difficult to get and read a clear picture of the heart. A doctor might recommend it if a routine ultrasound shows signs of a heart problem or if there are other reasons to believe that something might be wrong with the heart. This allows your doctor to prepare for labor and delivery.
In pediatric transthoracic echocardiography, the doctor uses an ultrasound transducer pressed against the child’s chest. This test is non-invasive, although it is sometimes uncomfortable because the conductive gel may be cold and sometimes the doctor has to press very hard to see the heart clearly. The imaging study might be done before surgery or if a child is showing signs of a heart problem and the doctor wants to have a clear picture to decide how to proceed.
The more invasive transesophageal procedure provides a much better view of the heart. For this pediatric echocardiography study, the doctor places the transducer into the patient’s esophagus to look at the heart. The patient may need sedation and other medications. This procedure takes place in a clinic with health care workers to monitor the patient for distress while the doctor takes pictures of the heart. The more invasive nature of the procedure makes it less popular, but the resulting sharp image is very beneficial.
Some facilities are able to do pediatric three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, in which a computer will reconstruct the images to create a 3D model of the heart. This can be useful for studying the heart in preparation for a procedure, because the surgeon can manipulate the image to get a complete overview so he knows what to expect. To get more information, a doctor might recommend MRI of the heart in addition to echocardiography.
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