Diagnostic Care

In partnership with MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute (MHVI), the pediatric Cardiology Center at Miller Children’s offers a wide range of diagnostic testing in order to accurately diagnose each patient and determine the appropriate course of treatment. Treatment options will vary and could include a minimally invasive interventional cardiac catheterization or cardiac surgery. Most diagnostic testing and all pediatric cardiac procedures are done at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.

However, the Cardiology Outpatient Specialty Centers offer diagnostic testing, such as onsite EKG and ECHO, to make it convenient for patients and their families, eliminating the need to make a special visit to the hospital for these tests.

Onsite outpatient diagnostic care includes:

Echocardiogram (ECHO)
An echocardiogram (ECHO) is an ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create a picture of the child’s heart and its circulation to check for narrowing of the aorta.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An Electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heartbeat. An electrical impulse travels through the heart with each beat. The electrical pulse causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart.

Other available diagnostics at Miller Children’s or in the Catheterization Lab:

• Treadmill stress testing
• 24-hour holter monitoring
• 30 day event monitoring
• Cardiac CT/MRI
• Diagnostic Heart Catheterization

Procedures & Treatment

After diagnostic care is complete, the pediatric cardiologist will recommend a plan of care. Treatment could include:

• Interventional Cardiac Catheterizations
• Cardiac Surgery

These procedures or surgeries would be done in conjunction with cardiovascular surgeons at MHVI and require hospitalization. After the patient is discharged, follow-up care takes place in the Cardiology Outpatient Specialty Center.