Cardiology Patient Procedures

The procedure sheets, like the one pictured, have been designed to help parents and guardians and their children better understand the cardiology test that has been scheduled by a physician.

Select a procedure to learn more:

• Echocardiogram (ECHO) – An echo is a moving picture of your child’s heart in action.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) – An EKG is a quick and easy way to measure the beats of the heart.
• Electrophysiology Study and Ablation – An electrophysiology or EP study is a special type of heart cath that checks the electrical conduction system of the heart.
• Exercise (Stress) Test – An exercise test is the best way for doctors to get an idea of how well your child’s heart works at, and adjusts to, ­different levels of activity.
• Heart Biopsy – A heart biopsy is a test to see if there are any abnormalities in the muscle tissue of the heart.
• Heart Catheterization – A heart catheterization or “heart cath” is a minimally invasive procedure which uses thin, flexible tubes called “catheters” to look at and get information about the heart from the inside.
• Holter Monitoring – A Holter monitor is a small machine that makes a continuous recording of your child’s electrocardiogram (EKG) for 24 hours.
• Interventional Heart Catheterization – An interventional heart catheterization is the treatment or repair of a heart condition during a heart catheterization, through the use of special devices.
• Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) – A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is an important type of echocardiogram that uses “ultrasound” or high-frequency sound waves that echo or “bounce” off the heart to create pictures of the beating heart on a television screen.