Our scope of services includes advanced diagnostics; long-term management of cardiovascular diseases in infants, children and adolescents; adults with congenital cardiac defects; and cardiovascular defects in the fetus.
Advanced Diagnostics
Stony Brook Children’s provides state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac imaging in our new echocardiography laboratory. This facility is equipped with the latest technology and is staffed by highly skilled pediatric cardiology imaging experts. The imaging lab offers safe, non-invasive, pain-free testing in a soothing, family-centered environment.
Most patients are referred by their primary care physician, who may have noticed something unusual that needs a specialist's evaluation. Examples include heart murmurs, rapid breathing, high blood pressure, certain infections, chest pain, heart rhythm irregularities, fainting episodes or questions about participation in sports. We also see pregnant women referred by their obstetrician to identify some congenital defects prenatally, as early as 16 to 18 weeks of gestation. This allows us to educate the family about prognosis and make informed decisions about the management of the baby at and after birth.
All patients receive a thorough history and examination, and frequently an EKG (electrocardiogram) and ECHO (echocardiogram). In most cases serious heart disease can be definitively excluded based on this evaluation alone. If more specialized tests are required, an array of noninvasive or minimally invasive options are available, including:
- Ambulatory EKG
- Echocardiography
- Transesophageal echocardiography
- 3-Dimensional echocardiography
- Exercise stress testing
- Fetal echocardiography
- Cardiac MRI
- Cardiac CT
Long-term Management
Many heart problems in childhood may need treatment and monitoring only for a limited time. Other problems may require extended care, and management into adulthood. Stony Brook Children's and Stony Brook Medicine coordinate a multidisciplinary treatment and follow-up program for adults with congenital heart disease.