What is a paediatric echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart. Sound waves are sent into the chest, they bounce off the structures inside, and a machine turns the returning echoes into a live moving picture of your child's heart.
It shows the chambers and valves, any holes between them, the direction and speed of blood flow, and how strongly the heart muscle is squeezing. It is the most important single test in paediatric cardiology, and for most children it is the only test needed to reach a diagnosis.
You may hear it called a 2D echo, a cardiac ultrasound, a heart sonography, or a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). They all mean the same thing.
Why your child might need one
What happens during the test
Your child lies down and a little warm gel is put on the chest. A small probe is moved over the skin. Nothing is injected, nothing is inserted, and it does not hurt. The room is usually dimmed and quiet, which helps.
The scan takes roughly 20 to 40 minutes. Babies often sleep through it. Toddlers are the hardest age — if a child cannot stay still and the pictures matter, we may give a mild sedative, and we will discuss that with you beforehand.
Getting results
Dr. Pankaj Sugaonkar performs and reads the scan himself, so you get the findings in the same visit. He will show you the images and explain what they mean in plain language, with time for your questions.