Heart Center

Diagnosis of Heart Conditions

Congenital heart conditions often require specialized tests to accurately diagnose and understand the nature of the defect. At Connecticut Children’s, our team uses a range of non-invasive tests, such as echocardiograms, cardiac MRIs and fetal echocardiograms (for prenatal diagnoses), to examine the heart and create a personalized care plan.

In cases where a heart murmur or symptoms like fatigue, difficulty breathing or poor growth are present, further testing helps us determine whether a congenital heart defect is involved. Early detection is key, and with advanced diagnostic tools, we can identify heart issues at any stage of life, even before birth.

Treatment Options

Some heart conditions can be treated with medication or watchful waiting. For conditions requiring further treatment, we focus first on minimally invasive procedures, including cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology. Many conditions that used to require open heart surgery can now be treated through minimally invasive cardiac catherization. The team at Connecticut Children’s has pioneered a number of cardiac catherization procedures available only at Connecticut Children’s in Connecticut. Connecticut Children’s offers the only Hybrid Cath lab dedicated to children and adults with congenital heart disease 

We are the first in the state to offer transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects in children and adults and transcatheter repair of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. Additionally CT Children is the first program in Connecticut to offer Altera Adaptive trans-catheter pulmonary valve replacement. At Connecticut Children’s, we pioneered the innovative Zero X-Ray catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias, offering state-of-the-art management of heart rhythm disorders through this advanced procedure.

When patients need heart surgery, our cardiac surgeons will work closely with you to ensure you understand all available treatment options and guide you through the process with care and expertise.