HOW IS A HEART DEFECT DIAGNOSED

1. Most serious heart defects are diagnosed when your baby is a newborn.

2. When the defect is diagnosed, your baby will be referred to a pediatric cardiologist (specialist in heart problems of babies and children).

3. The pediatric cardiologist will see your baby and will decide if your baby’s heart defect needs regular checkups or needs special tests, and procedures or needs surgery.

4. Both the pediatric cardiologist and our neonatologist will talk with you about your baby and what they recommend.

WHAT TESTS AND PROCEDURES ARE DONE

1. The Neonatologist will talk with you about which tests and procedures need to be done.

2. Your baby may have several tests and procedures done, remember not all babies need all the tests.

3. Each test is listed below:

Chest X-Ray

The chest x-ray gives the doctor information about your baby’s lungs and the heart’s size and shape

The x-ray has no long-term effects.

Electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG)

The EKG machine uses electrodes (wires) secured to the baby’s skin to receive tiny electrical impulses from his heartbeat

It records these impulses on a moving strip of paper in a zigzag line

The EKG gives the doctor information about how your baby’s heart is working

This test will not hurt your baby.

Echocardiography (ECHO)

An ECHO is an ultrasound of the heart

It is a painless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of the inside of your baby’s heart and to measure the blood flow through his heart.

This test will not hurt your baby.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE TEST AND PROCEDURES

1. The Neonatologist and pediatric cardiologist will talk with you about the results and what they recommend.

2. Please feel free to ask questions.

WHAT IF MY BABY NEEDS SURGERY

	If your baby needs surgery, it may be performed at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Occasionally, babies are transferred to either Duke University Medical Center or The University Hospital at Chapel Hill for the surgery.
	If the decision is to transfer your baby to another hospital you will be asked to sign a consent giving Cape Fear Valley Medical Center permission to transfer your baby.
	If your baby is transferred to another hospital, the doctors there will also talk with you about your baby’s surgery.
	The surgery is done in the Operating Room and the baby is asleep for the surgery. You will be asked to sign a consent (give permission) for the surgery.
	Once your baby’s condition is stable and the doctors are happy with the baby’s progress, the baby may be returned to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Reviewed/Revised:

6/03, 8/05, 11/07