Echocardiography
The Children's Heart Clinic has the first pediatric echocardiography lab in the state of Minnesota to be certified by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL).
Our echocardiography staff of ten ARDMS (American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers) credentialed sonographers perform more than 4,500 echo studies per year and provide interpretive services on approximately 6,000 echoes per year from across the region.
Echocardiography
Pediatric echoes can provide our CHC board-certified cardiologists and surgeons with excellent definition of intracardiac structure. Our specially trained ultrasound technologists, using state of the art imaging equipment, work with the cardiologists to conduct fast, accurate studies and interpretations for hundreds of patients throughout the region. Our physicians will provide same day fax results and immediate echocardiogram interpretation is available 24 hours per day. Click on the following link to learn more: Introduction to Echocardiography.
Fetal Echocardiography
Over 95 percent of congenital cardiac defects can be detected in utero, most commonly at 18-20 weeks gestation. Unfortunately, only 30 percent of heart disease is diagnosed pre-natally. In utero diagnosis improves perinatal mortality, surgical outcomes, and long term neurological outcome.
This procedure is usually performed from the maternal abdomen as early as 16 weeks gestation to term. CHC cardiologists are experienced in providing focus studies evaluating the structure and flow of the fetal heart enabling diagnosis of many types of congenital heart disease.
Remote Interpretation of Echocardiograms
Web-based, remote ECHO interpretations are available through the AGFA Heartlab system. This system allows cardiologists to review and analyze echocardiograms sent via the Web from enrolled referring institutions. Analyses typically are provided within two hours. Pediatric cardiologists at Children's provide more than 1,000 remote echocardiogram interpretations each year. Emergency interpretations are available 24 hours per day.