The test will last about 30 to 45 minutes. During this test, all the child will feel is the transducer touching his or her chest. A clear gel will be applied to the chest to help the transducer move smoothly. Repetitive pulses of ultrasound waves, silent to our ears, are delivered to the heart. Between these pulses, the returning echoes are gathered and recorded.
Sedation is sometime necessary to ensure good pictures.
Your child may be given something to drink or nasal spray that will help him or her to go into a light sleep. For additional information, please read about our Heart Station . It is commonly worn by a patient before and after cardiac surgery, so the doctor can compare before and after information on the heart's electrical activity. A Holter monitor is a box carried on a shoulder strap or belt with wires that are painlessly connected to the chest with patches. The patient's nurse or family keeps a diary of the child's activities, such as walking, eating and crying, and the time they occur.