The Heart Center at Children's Hospital provides comprehensive and interventional
procedures for patients with heart rhythm abnormalities, which include
conditions that cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or at an irregular pace.
We understand that children’s bodies are different from adults. So,
when they have a heart defect or abnormal heart rhythm, they need specialized
pediatric care.
Working alongside a team of highly trained anesthesiologists, we use various
sophisticated techniques to treat pediatric patients in a safe and comfortable
environment. Diagnostic capabilities include Holter and event monitoring,
implantable loop recorders, exercise stress testing, tilt tables, as well
as transesophageal and transcatheter electrophysiology studies. Our program
also provides an in-depth evaluation of patients with a family history
of sudden cardiac death or familial dysrhythmias.
Electrophysiology studies, ablation procedures, and implantation of cardiac
pacemakers and defibrillators are performed in one of our two state-of-the-art
cardiac catheterization labs. We have access to technologies including
advanced 3-D mapping, cryoablation, and intracardiac ultrasound.
Conditions we treat
We are highly trained to treat a variety of heart defects and arrhythmias,
including:
Heart palpitations
Fainting
Abnormal EKG findings
Cardiac arrhythmias
Heart block
Long QT syndrome
Sudden cardiac arrest
Who we treat
Our team sees patients in-utero, through infancy, childhood and into adulthood.
We work closely with our other cardiology care teams (from our fetal echocardiographers
to our adult congenital cardiologists) so that our patients don’t
miss a beat and are able to make a seamless transition to adult care as
they grow older.
What Makes Us Different
Expert team: Our two experienced and board-certified pediatric electrophysiologists
work collaboratively with a team of specialists from various disciplines,
including pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, pediatric cardiac interventionalists,
cardiothoracic surgeons, pediatric nurses, geneticists, psychologists,
social workers, and others. This multi-disciplinary approach allows us
to create specialized treatment plans for each of our patients.
Innovative treatments: We utilize advanced and often minimally invasive ablation technology
such as cryoablation to fix arrhythmias at their source. Cryoablation
is a catheter-based freezing technique that is often safer and more precise
than traditional heating (radio frequency) ablation. We also perform implantation
of pacemakers, intracardiac defibrillator (ICD) devices (including sub-cutaneous
ICDs) and implantable loop recorders. Nearly all of these utilize technology
which allows patients to transmit information from their device at home
via the internet or cellular service, often wirelessly.
Genetic testing: Many pediatric arrhythmias are genetic. We work closely with our geneticists
and genetic counselors to provide testing and counseling for families
affected by hereditary heart rhythm disorders.
Post-surgery care: After cardiothoracic surgery, some children experience heart rhythm abnormalities.
If that happens, our specialists are prepared to quickly identify and
correct these issues both in the operating room and back on the intensive
care unit.
Comprehensive program: Here at CHNOLA, we maintain a high-volume clinic to provide outpatient
evaluation and follow-up for patients with arrhythmias of all types.
Tests that can be performed
To help the doctor learn more about your child’s heart rhythm, tests
can be done. These include:
Electrocardiography (ECG). This test records electrical signals from your child’s heart onto
a paper strip. The pattern of these signals can help the doctor tell whether
your child’s heart is normal, under stress, or having electrical
or rhythm problems. The test lasts about 10 minutes.
Holter monitoring. A Holter monitor is a portable device that records your child’s heart
rhythm continuously for up to 14 days. This device helps the doctor check
for arrhythmias that occur frequently but randomly. It's a device attached
to an adhesive patch that you can wear away from the doctor's office.
It continuously monitors the heart rhythm while it's being worn.
Event monitoring. An event monitor is a portable device that records your child’s
heart rhythm when symptoms occur. It’s generally used for periods
up to a month. This device helps the doctor check for arrhythmias that
occur randomly and infrequently. When symptoms occur, you can activate
the button to record the heart rhythm at that moment which syncs up with
the symptom with the heart rhythm is at that moment.
Implantable loop recorder insertion. When symptoms are infrequent, but severe, a small device can be placed
under the skin to monitor the heart rhythm for up to 3-5 years. The device
communicates wirelessly to a transmitter to notify our clinic of rhythm
abnormalities that arise while the device is implanted. Insertion is generally
performed with light to moderate sedation and local anesthetic and takes
only a few minutes.
Exercise Stress Testing. This test combines ECG testing with metabolic testing during exercise.
ECG stickers are placed on the patient and a mouth-breathing apparatus
can be used while the patient walks on a treadmill at increasing speed
and incline to monitor for abnormal stress response or rhythm abnormalities
during exertion.
Invasive electrophysiology studies. Sometimes, more specific information regarding an abnormal heart rhythm
is required to make the diagnosis or treat the condition. In these cases,
catheters can be placed while patient is under anesthesia through the
blood vessels and into the heart to study the electrical rhythms of the
heart. Once identified, rhythm abnormalities can often be treated with
an ablation catheter capable of burning or freezing a small scar in the
area of abnormal electrical conduction.
Locations:
To make an appointment or to get a second opinion, please call 504.896.9289.
Children’s Hospital New Orleans
200 Henry Clay Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
Children’s Hospital Ridgelake Clinic
2121 Ridgelake Dr. 2nd Floor
Metairie, LA 70001
