3. What Happens During the Echocardiogram
When it’s your child’s turn, a staff member will bring you to a quiet room with soft lighting. Choose a movie or show to watch on the screen while the echocardiographer begins the test.
- First, small stickers with wires may be placed on your child’s chest. These help track their heartbeat during the test, which we’ll explain in ways they can understand.
- Then, a special device (called a probe) with a bit of ultrasound gel is gently moved over your child’s chest and belly. The gel might feel cold, but the test doesn’t hurt. The probe uses sound waves to take pictures of the heart from different angles.
- The hardest part? Staying still! If your child wiggles too much, it can make it harder to get clear pictures. But don’t worry—we’re patient, and we’ll take breaks as needed to keep things calm.
Sometimes, the cardiologist may stop by to look at the images right away. If more pictures are needed, we’ll let you know before the test ends.
>>Related: Need a fetal echocardiogram? Here’s what you can expect.
4. After the Test
When the echocardiogram is finished, we turn the lights back on, remove the stickers, and wipe off the gel. If you’re only here for the echo, you’ll head back to the checkout desk. But if your child also has a cardiology appointment, you’ll go to an exam room where:
- A nurse or medical assistant checks your child’s vital signs (like weight and blood pressure).
- An ECG (another heart rhythm test) is done.
- The cardiologist meets with you to talk about the test results and next steps.
All heart ultrasounds are reviewed by a pediatric cardiologist. Their full report is added to your child’s medical record and will be available to you in MyChart. Our team is always here to answer your questions, explain results, and guide your family through any treatment or follow-up needed.
At Connecticut Children’s, your child’s heart health and well-being are our number one priority.