Cardiac conditions we care for
- Congenital heart disease (birth defects): We follow patients with all birth defects of the heart. We may first encounter a baby before delivery), in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or as an older infant or child in the office, and continue to follow the most complex cases through adulthood. Examples of congenital heart defects include straightforward “holes” such as Atrial or Ventricular Septal Defects, valve problems such as Aortic or Pulmonary Stenosis, complex conditions such as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome or Heterotaxy Syndrome, and everything in between.
- Acquired heart conditions: Some patients born with normal hearts can develop heart conditions later in life. Examples include Kawasaki disease (a condition involving the coronary arteries), Myocarditis (a weakness of the heart typically caused by a virus), and Rheumatic Fever (a condition following Strep Throat that results in valve damage).
- Heart rhythm disorders: A patient may have symptoms if the heart beats too fast or too slowly. This situation may arise at any age, including prior to delivery. Treatment may be required, including medications, a minor surgery, or placement of a pacemaker.
- Murmurs, fainting spells, palpitations (“heart flutters”), and chest pain: These symptoms or physical exam findings may indicate a congenital heart defect, an acquired condition, or a heart rhythm concern. Your pediatrician or family doctor is typically the first contact point to determine if a cardiology consultation is needed.
- Sports clearance for the athlete: Children and teens with some heart conditions should not participate in competitive athletics. Examples include some heart rhythm abnormalities and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Your pediatrician or family doctor will involve us in the sports clearance process if there is a concern for such a diagnosis.
- Familial cardiac concerns: Some inherited conditions, such as Marfan syndrome and cardiomyopathy, should be identified prior to the onset of symptoms. Medication therapy and activity counseling may be life-saving. The diagnosis of these conditions in one family member may be a clue that others are affected.
- The adult with congenital heart disease: There are now more patients born with congenital heart disease who are older than 18 years of age than there are children with these defects. This is the result of the remarkable advance in our understanding of these defects, advanced imaging capabilities, and interventional or surgical expertise, all resulting in more patients surviving into adulthood. Many of these adults benefit from the ongoing expertise of a cardiologist familiar with complex birth defects of the heart, and we are pleased to cooperate with primary care physicians and adult cardiologists to ensure they receive the highest level of care.
- Lipid disorders (hypercholesterolemia and others): Some children inherit high cholesterol levels, and others children develop high levels as a result of obesity, poor diet, and other factors. High cholesterol is a strong risk factor for the development of early coronary disease (“heart attack”). Fortunately, we are finding that medications previously reserved for use by adults are safe in children and have a role in their management.
