Cardiac Tests and Procedures

Doctors use different cardiac tests to diagnose possible heart problems in children. These heart tests are also often used on an ongoing basis in follow-up care and serve as a foundation in the excellent heart care provided at Children's Hospital Colorado.

As a cardiac patient, your child will undoubtedly experience one or more heart tests. Take some of the worry out of your child's heart tests by learning more about each test and what you should expect.

Chest X-ray

A chest X-ray is a non-invasive procedure that provides a picture of the heart, lungs and bones of the chest. Read more about chest X-rays.

CT scan and MRI

A cardiac MRI is a test that uses a magnet to produce signals from the atoms within the body and then turns these signals into pictures of the body. Read more about CT scans and MRIs.

Cardiac catheterization

A "heart cath" is a minimally invasive procedure that gives doctors a better understanding of how each unique heart works. Read more about cardiac catheterization.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram (ECHO) is a non-invasive test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart. Read more about heart ECHOs.

Electrocardiogram, Holter monitor and event recorder

An electrocardiogram (EKG), Holter monitor and event recorder are types of tests that record the electrical activity of the heart. Read more about how we monitor heart activity.

Electrophysiology study

An electrophysiology (EP) study is done in the Electrophysiology Lab to give more detailed information about the heart's electrical activity. Read more about EP studies.

Exercise test

Exercise testing helps doctors evaluate the cardiopulmonary limitations of kids with heart or lung disease. Read more about exercise tests.

Lab tests

Laboratory testing, such as blood, sweat and glucose tolerance tests, can provide a closer look at the body's functions and processes. Read more about lab tests.

Tissue biopsies

A heart tissue biopsy is a test in which a small piece of the heart muscle is taken and looked at under a microscope. Read more about how we biopsy heart tissue.