Pediatric Cardiology

Frequently Asked Questions: General

Does my child need antibiotics before going to the dentist or having a procedure?

The guidelines set out by the American Heart Association have recently changed. You may want to read the guidelines, or ask your primary health care physician. In general, your cardiologist would have given you recommendations at your last visit.

Frequently Asked Questions: Procedures

May I be with my child before he or she is anesthetized prior to undergoing a procedure?

Yes. We understand that a parent's presence can be enormously reassuring, so we usually permit one parent to accompany the child to the procedure area until the child is no longer conscious.

My child is frightened of needles. Is there an alternative?

Many children dislike needles, so we often administer an oral sedative to help young patients relax before going to the cardiac catherterization lab. In children, sleep is often induced by anesthesia administered through a mask (rather than an intravenous line) to avoid needlesticks while the child is conscious.

What about my child's comfort following the procedure?

Following a procedure, your child will be taken to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The doctors and nurses in the PICU consider your child's comfort to be extremely important, and are very experienced at recognizing and managing children's pain. If you have any concerns about your child's comfort at any time, speak to a member of your child's care team.