Services
EKG and ECHO

Services

EKG and ECHO

Heart-related evaluations can be stressful for families – but they don’t have to be

Find a location

This service is not available at our Miami office, however, you can get care at one of our nearby locations.

In-house EKG and ECHO services are available at select locations

Pediatric Associates offers electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram (ECHO) services at select locations, making it easier and more reassuring for families to access expert heart care in a familiar setting.

In-house EKG and ECHO services give us the ability to assess your child’s heart health without the need for outside referrals. This convenient access allows for quicker evaluation and early identification of potential issues, which is critical in preventing complications and ensuring timely care.

Testing by pediatric experts

All testing is performed by teams that specialize in pediatric care

Evaluation of results

Results are interpreted by pediatric heart specialists

Easy scheduling

Convenient scheduling within your child’s medical home

Familiar faces

Reduces the need to travel to unfamiliar cardiology centers

EKGs get to the heart of the matter

Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are an important clinical tool used to detect abnormal heart rhythms, heart murmurs, congenital heart defects, and other pediatric heart concerns that may present as

Chest pain
Rapid or irregular
Shortness of breath

Dizziness
Fainting

Your child may require an EKG as part of pre-participation sports clearance or as a follow-up for abnormal findings on a routine exam. We also use EKGs to help monitor existing congenital heart conditions.

All EKG evaluations and results are coordinated by your Pediatric Associates care team, so pediatric specialists are always involved in your child’s heart care.

ECHO testing may also be available

An echocardiogram, also known as an ECHO, uses ultrasound technology to create a moving picture of your child’s heart. This test (which is also non-invasive and painless) provides real-time views of the heart’s chambers, valves, and blood vessels – allowing us to evaluate how well your child’s heart is pumping, check blood flow patterns, and more.

For ECHO testing, we apply a special gel to your child’s chest and use a transducer wand to capture the images. We also attach electrodes to their chest to monitor their heart rhythm.

Your child will be able to watch videos, listen to music, or even nap during the test, which usually takes 30-60 minutes. Like an EKG, our pediatric heart specialists then review the results to search for abnormalities.

When more cardiac care is needed

At Pediatric Associates, we take your child’s health to heart. The results of all in-house EKG and ECHO tests are carefully interpreted by our own pediatric heart specialists. If we determine that a higher level of cardiac care is needed, our team will coordinate directly with pediatric cardiologists and other specialists to ensure seamless follow-up and continuity of care for your child and family.

What to expect during an electrocardiogram

How do we determine if your child has a normal electrocardiogram or an abnormal electrocardiogram? And what are the symptoms of an abnormal electrocardiogram? Pediatric Associates has these answers for you and more.

A normal EKG shows a healthy and regular heartbeat with a consistent pattern of intervals (waves) between the beats. A child’s normal heart rate can range from 60 to 190 beats per minute, depending on their age.

An abnormal EKG reveals any irregularities in heart activity, such as beating too fast or too slow. Your child’s heart could also skip beats or have extra beats. Some of these variations are minor, while others can indicate serious issues like arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, or congenital heart defects (structural problems with the heart or blood vessels that are present at birth).

EKG testing is non-invasive and painless

Your pediatric provider attaches small, sticker-like electrodes to your child’s chest, arms, and legs, which are then connected by wires to the EKG machine to record their heart’s electrical signals. Your child can watch videos or listen to music to stay calm and still while the test is conducted.

Once the test is complete, the electrodes are removed. Our pediatric heart specialists then review the results to check for any abnormalities.