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Cardiology (Pediatrics)

Pediatrics

When a child has a heart condition, we put our whole heart into providing them everything they need. We provide complete diagnostic and therapeutic services for those with congenital (genetic) heart conditions and all kinds of heart disease.

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This page is for our littlest patients.

We are proud of how we provide cardiovascular care for grown-ups and kids. 

Kids are at the heart of what we do

You want the best care possible when it’s your child’s heart. It could be an alarming dizzy spell while playing sports or a family history of heart issues that has you searching for support for your child's heart. We provide complete diagnostic and therapeutic services for children of all ages - from newborns to young adults - with heart disease or other heart conditions. Our experienced team of doctors also collaborates closely with teams at Boston Children’s, so you have all the best minds focused on your child.

Pediatric patient getting their heart examined with a stethoscope by a doctor while sitting on hospital bed with parent.
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Conditions

Heart issues can develop at any time - it's even possible to detect and begin treatment for heart issues in babies before birth! No matter their age, if your child experiences symptoms like a fast or slow heartbeat, difficulty breathing, chest pain, dizziness, or even fainting, it's important to address the problem immediately. We specialize in managing conditions such as:

Atrial fibrillation
Heart murmur
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Kawasaki disease
Myocarditis
Congenital heart disease

Did you know that more than a million adults across the U.S. live with congenital heart defects thanks to dramatic improvements in detection and treatment?

While many cases are now identified before or right after birth, some are not detected until a situation arises, such as an infant turning blue, fainting, irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath. Eight children per 1,000 are born with a heart defect while 1 to 2 in 1,000 will require surgery or intervention in the first year of life. We treat all congenital heart disease, including structural defects in the heart’s chamber walls, valves and arteries.

With the proper care, children born with congenital heart defects and heart conditions can expect to live full and happy lives.

Fetal cardiology

Pregnancy can be challenging enough, and a serious heart condition in your unborn baby brings more anxiety and concern. And if something is wrong with your child’s heart, you want to know immediately. We provide early treatment and expert care for fetal heart defects. We can spot structural heart problems in fetuses as young as 19 weeks old. This provides a crucial head start - the sooner structural abnormalities in your child’s heart can be detected, the earlier planning for treatment can start.

Heart rhythm

While some heart rate problems are identified in utero, others may not become apparent until later in childhood and adolescence. Palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pains and dizziness or fainting are possible signs your child may have a heart rhythm issue that needs to be checked out. Even if there are no visible symptoms, you may want your child to be evaluated if there is a family history of hereditary conditions that can lead to heart rhythm abnormalities.

We offer a wide range of treatments and monitoring, from cardiac monitoring to exercise stress testing. If it's recommended that your child receive a pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) or catheter ablations, we are ready. We specialize in treating conditions including, but not limited to:

  • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
  • Long QT syndrome
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Brugada syndrome
  • Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Heart surgery

If heart surgery is recommended for your child, we collaborate with Boston Children's Hospital to provide great surgical care. We will continue to care for your child as they recover from their surgery and any additional needs.

stethescope

Testing

The right treatment starts with the right diagnosis. If you or your child’s primary care doctor suspects a heart problem, our team will evaluate your child with state-of-the-art technology in a comforting and child-friendly environment. Looking at your child's whole heart and full health, we may use a variety of tests, including:

  • Chest X-ray
  • Echocardiogram
  • EKG
  • Fetal electrocardiographs
  • MRI
  • Pulse oximetry
  • Stress test
  • Ultrasound
hands-heart

Treatments

After diagnosing your child's heart condition, we will create a personalized treatment plan to cater to their healthcare needs. The course of treatment for your child's heart problem will largely depend on the specific issue they are facing. Some of the common treatment options include:

  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Implants + defibrillator
  • Medication
  • Monitoring
  • Surgery
Anasuya Gunturi MD, PhD talks with patient at Lowell General Hospital's Women's Wellness Center clinic appointment.
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