Specialized pediatric interventional cardiology services for children
Our pediatric cardiologists are experts at delivering minimally invasive care so that some congenital heart defects can be repaired without surgery. Using the latest techniques in minimally invasive cardiac catheterization (cath) procedures, they can diagnose and treat a variety of heart conditions, ranging from simple to complex congenital heart disease.
Many children with congenital heart problems will have a heart cath at some point in their treatment, and some children may need to have the procedure multiple times. Children are under general anesthesia throughout the entire procedure, which usually lasts two to three hours.
Catheterization involves the insertion of catheters into the heart using the large arteries and veins as pathways. Diagnostic catheterization can provide your child’s physician with valuable information, including:
- The presence of congenital heart defects
- The location of blocked or narrowed blood vessels
- Pressure and oxygen level measurements
- How well the heart is pumping
- Problems with the heart valves
- Tissue samples (biopsy)
Cardiac catheterization procedures may be used for:
- Angioplasty for widening a narrowed blood vessel, with or without placing a stent
- Fixing congenital heart defects, such as closing holes (atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect)
- Closing abnormal communications such as PDAs
- Replacing or repairing heart valves, such as opening narrow heart valves (balloon valvuloplasty, transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement)
To make an appointment with one of our specialists or to learn more about our interventional cardiology services, call (972) 566-2022.