A pediatric cardiologist is a subspecialist in cardiology who focuses on the care and treatment of the different conditions that can affect the heart.
What does a cardiologist do
A cardiologist provides diagnosis and treatment for diseases of the heart and circulatory system.
This specialist evaluates patients with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, unexplained fatigue, or a family history of heart disease.
A pediatric cardiologist treats conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, arrhythmias, and coronary artery disease; however, when discussing pediatric cardiology, this subspecialty addresses conditions specific to children and adolescents.
Pediatric cardiologist
The pediatric cardiologist specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disorders in fetuses, neonates, children, and adolescents, whose pathologies vary with age and pediatric anatomy.
A pediatric cardiologist also treats congenital heart conditions, which are present at birth.
Because the heart of a growing child faces very different challenges than that of an adult, pediatric cardiologists require in-depth knowledge of the specificities of the pediatric cardiovascular system. This is achieved with the support of different tools such as neonatal electrocardiography, echocardiography, or Holter monitoring, for example.
They also collaborate with other specialties, such as neonatologists, who manage cases of heart disease diagnosed before birth.
Congenital heart disease
One of the most important areas of focus for a pediatric cardiologist is the care of congenital heart disease. This refers to a group of structural heart defects that are present from birth and can affect different parts of the heart or the circulatory system; these types of malformations are the most common conditions present at birth.
Some of the most frequent congenital heart diseases include:
- Ventricular septal defect: a defect involving a hole in the wall that separates the two ventricles of the heart, allowing oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood; it can cause heart failure and may require surgery.
- Tetralogy of Fallot: this complex heart defect consists of four structural problems: a displaced aorta, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary stenosis, and ventricular septal defect.
- Transposition of the great arteries: the main arteries leaving the heart are reversed, preventing oxygenated blood from reaching the body properly. This is a condition that requires urgent surgical care after birth.
- Congenital aortic stenosis: a malformation of the aortic valve that causes reduced blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.In pediatric cardiology, early diagnosis of congenital heart disease is essential to optimize long-term outcomes.
The pediatric cardiologist has a crucial role in supporting healthy development in children. Sometimes these conditions can be treated or corrected during childhood, but if not, as the patient grows and reaches adulthood, care can be transitioned to an adult cardiologist.
Pediatric cardiologist near me
At ABC Medical Center’s Pediatric Heart Center, we have a team of pediatric cardiologists who are highly trained and dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care for all your cardiology needs.
Our pediatric cardiologists in Mexico City (CDMX) are committed to your well-being and use the latest technology and the most advanced treatments to manage conditions such as congenital heart disease, coarctation of the aorta, transposition of the great arteries, and more.
Fuentes:
Healthy Children, Scielo, Stanfordhildrens.org
