Cardiovascular Imaging
Non-invasive imaging of the cardiovascular system is provided by several modalities, including echocardiography, computer tomography (CT) scanning and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI).
Rady Children’s Echocardiography Laboratory performs approximately 10,000 studies each year, including transthoracic, transesophageal and fetal echocardiograms. The laboratory is staffed with full-time pediatric-trained sonographers who perform the tests. Our pediatric nurse practitioners provide medical monitoring during sedated echocardiograms, which allows for complete evaluation on younger patients who may have trouble lying still while their study is performed. If your child is scheduled to have a sedated echocardiogram, it is very important to follow these instructions:
For newborns and infant up to 6 months of age:
You may give solid foods up to six hours before the study, breast milk or formula up to four hours before the study and clear liquids (Pedialyte) up to two hours before the study.
For patients older than 6 months:
You may give solids, milk and formula up to six hours before the study and clear liquids (water, Pedialyte) up to two hours before the study.
Beth Printz, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of Cardiac Imaging and performs cardiac MRI studies at Rady Children’s and the UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest. Raymond Fripp, M.D., is the Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory.
In addition to studies performed at Rady Children’s, our sonographers record studies in the NICUs at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital and UC San Diego Medical Center for interpretation by our cardiologists. Studies from other hospitals in our referral region are also sent to our cardiologists for interpretation.
Rady Children’s has a state-of-the-art 64-slice CT scanner that provides rapid and detailed imaging of our patients’ hearts and blood vessels. It was the first such CT scanner installed in a children’s hospital in the United States.
Our cardiac MRI studies are performed at Rady Children’s /Sharp MRI Center and at UC San Diego Medical Center, Hillcrest.
Contact Us
- Division of Cardiology
8001 Frost Street, Entrance 9
San Diego, CA 92123 - Phone: 858-966-5855
Fax: 858-571-7903 - Click here for all locations.
