Ranked 12th in the nation for pediatric heart care and heart surgery, the Division of Cardiology at Children's Memorial Hospital offers the full range of diagnostic services for children who may have cardiac issues. The multidisciplinary team provides in-depth clinical services for individuals (primarily children but also some adults) suspected of having congenital heart disease, including cardiac arrhythmias, patients with acquired heart disease, heart failure and patients who have had heart or heart-and-lung transplants.
A dedicated intensive care unit and the latest technology
In 2009, the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit was opened. The nine-bed unit within the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is designed for postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients and critically ill cardiology patients.
And our state-of-the-art hospital is equipped with the latest technology for evaluating heart disease. From ultrafast CT equipment that produces the highest quality images, to our congenital pacemaker program (which is the largest in the state of Illinois, following patients from infancy through adulthood) we are truly at the forefront of cardiac care.
In fact, Children's Memorial was first hospital in Illinois to implant the Berlin Heart, a breakthrough technology that helps children awaiting heart transplants. (Watch the NBC5 video here.)
Several types of tests and equipment are used to evaluate heart problems. Many of the tests are painless and can be done during a typical outpatient visit. Sometimes, our physicians will need to use invasive testing methods to gather more detailed information about your child's heart.
Excelling in more specialized diagnostic tests
In addition to offering blood tests, X-rays, and other routine diagnostic methods, our physicians excel at performing more specialized diagnostic tests and procedures. These include the following: