How Are Holes in the Heart Diagnosed?
Holes in the heart are usually diagnosed based on
results from a physical exam and special tests. The exam findings for an atrial
septal defect (ASD) often aren't obvious, so the diagnosis is sometimes not
made until later childhood or even adulthood. A ventricular septal defect (VSD)
has a very distinct
heart
murmur, so this diagnosis is usually made in infancy.
Specialists Involved
Doctors who specialize in heart problems are called
cardiologists. Pediatric cardiologists take care of babies and children who
have heart problems. Other specialists who treat heart defects include cardiac
surgeons (doctors who repair heart defects using surgery).
Physical Exam
During a physical exam, the doctor:
- Listens to your child's heart and lungs with a
stethoscope
- Looks for signs of a heart defect, such as a
heart murmur or signs of
heart
failure
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
The doctor will order several tests to diagnose an
ASD or VSD. These tests also will help the doctor determine the location and
size of the defect.
Echocardiography
This test, which is harmless and painless, uses
sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. During
echocardiography,
ultrasound waves bounce off the structures of the heart, and then a computer
converts them into pictures on a video screen. The test allows the doctor to
clearly see any problem with the way the heart is formed or the way it's
working.
Echocardiography is an important test for diagnosing
a hole in the heart and for following the problem over time. This test shows
problems with the heart's structure and how the heart is reacting to these
problems. Echocardiography helps the cardiologist decide whether and when
treatment is needed.
EKG
An
EKG
(electrocardiogram) detects and records the electrical activity of the heart.
This simple and painless test is used to assess the heart rhythm. An EKG shows
how fast the heart is beating and whether the heart's rhythm is steady or
irregular. It also can detect enlargement of one of the heart's chambers, which
can help to diagnose a heart defect.
Chest X Ray
A chest x ray takes a picture of the heart and
lungs. It can show whether the heart is enlarged or whether the lungs have
extra blood flow or extra fluid, which can be a sign of heart failure.
Pulse Oximetry
Pulse oximetry shows how much oxygen is in the
blood. A sensor is placed on the fingertip or toe (like an adhesive bandage).
The sensor is attached to a small computer unit, which displays a number that
indicates how much oxygen is in the blood.
Cardiac Catheterization
During
cardiac
catheterization (KATH-e-ter-i-ZA-shun), a thin, flexible tube called a
catheter is put into a vein in the arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck and
threaded to the heart. A dye that can be seen on an x ray is injected through
the catheter into a blood vessel or a chamber of the heart. This allows the
doctor to see the flow of blood through the heart and blood vessels on the
x-ray image.
Cardiac catheterization also can be used to measure
the pressure inside the heart chambers and blood vessels and can determine
whether blood is mixing between the two sides of the heart. It's also used to
repair some heart defects. (See “How Are
Holes in the Heart Treated?”) |