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Treatment

Pediatric Echocardiography

What is echocardiography?

An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create images of the heart. A Doppler test uses sound waves to measure the speed and direction of blood flow. By combining these tests, a pediatric cardiologist gets useful information about the heart’s anatomy and function. Echocardiography is the most common test used in children to diagnose or rule out heart disease and also to follow children who have already been diagnosed with a heart problem. This test can be performed on children of all ages and sizes including fetuses and newborns.

Echocardiography diagnoses cardiac problems, and also guides heart surgery and complex cardiac catheterizations. Children’s developed one of the first digital echocardiography laboratories in the world and remains a leader in the development of new technologies to optimize patient care. Our digital echocardiography laboratory makes it seamless for physicians throughout the region, country, and world to instantly send Children’s cardiologists echocardiograms for review 24/7 from any computer.

Many types of specialized echocardiography services are offered, including:

The team also provides advanced connectivity services, such as digital echocardiography and tele-echocardiography.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems can echocardiography diagnose in children?

How is an echocardiogram performed for children?

What are the different types of echocardiogram in children?

Does an echocardiogram for children hurt?

Does an echocardiogram for children harmful to their health?

A boy having cardiac imaging.

Cardiac Imaging at Children's National Hospital

Our heart experts have expertise in the full spectrum of cardiac imaging, including transesophageal, prenatal, 3-D, intracardiac, and stress echocardiography and cardiac MRI. Discover more about the procedures we offer.

A boy having cardiac imaging.
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Providers of Echocardiography

    Departments that Offer Echocardiography

    Cardiologist and Patient with Stethoscope

    Electrophysiology (Heart Rhythm Team)

    Our pediatric electrophysiologists perform ablations and other procedures to correct abnormal heart rhythms, with a success rate close to 98 percent. Learn more about Cardiac Electrophysiology.

    Dr. Harahsheh checks pulse of patient.

    Cardiology

    The pediatric heart experts at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., provide advanced care for unborn babies, children and young adults with heart conditions.

    Picture of baby getting examined

    Cardiogenetics Program

    We help families with known or suspected inherited heart diseases receive early detection and treatment. Learn more about our Cardiogenetics Program.