Echocardiograms for children...how accurate?

[Natanni]

We have made Nathan's 2.5 month post op visit appt at the Mayo, and I am at the point where I was going to schedule my 9 year old daughter to see a pediatric cardiologist and echodardiogram at the same time. We were advised to have our kids evaluated when Nathan's bicuspid aortic valve was finally identified as such in July(flip flopped since 1997 between tri and bicuspid at the University of MN). With the size of a 9 year old valve how well are they able to identify leakage and to accuately say weather or not it is bicuspid or tricuspid? From what I have learned over the last several months, most aortic valves are difficult to visualize due to their position in the heart, and this is one of the reasons for doing TEEs. However, the two TEEs that Nathan had did not pick up on the vegatations that were on his valve. Our daughter has a murmur, but I am wondering how much info the echo really will reveal at this point or will it just freak her out (which she was for about 2 wks after his surgery until she found out that Dad doesn't remember much). Any opinions? Lots of heart history in the family with Nathans Dad post heart transplant X 15 years as well.

 

[aussigal]

Matt is 15 day after Christmas and his was very obvious even to me...
Steve was 10 in June and his also was obvious...
I reckon skill also plays apart a good technician will know where to position the probe to get the best views but usually from the 3 kids ones I saw there was a huge difference between the 2 BAV ones and the MVP one and I had seen my BAV one twice recently too..so am quite familiar with them now and the technician explained it all as she went too...I had the same lady for 3 of the tests...
But from what I saw yes definately seeable on a child of her age...good luck.A paediatric specialist sounds ideal.

 

[PJmomrunner]

Both my kids have had echos and both showed supposed tricuspid aortic valves. I say supposed because of this apparent difficulty in visualizing. I do think they are valuable nonetheless for the sake of future comparisons.

 

[francie12]

My Matt was almost 12 yrs when his BAV and regurg. were discovered. It was very easy to see on the echo, especially the regurg. which flashes back and forth. I know though in some cases-- depending on the condition of the valve, if there's calcification-- it's hard to tell about the leaflets. There is someone here who doesn't know if he has one, two or three.

 

[Emma]

Chloes valve problems show up on echo very clearly, red and blue swishing in all directions. But then her valve problem was not a bicuspid valve. My opinion would be that her age wouldnt come into it since I know a lot of people over here with children who were diagnosed at birth with bicuspid valves. I would have thought the factor in seeing if she has this defect or not would be how severe it is and whether or not it is bad enough to show clearly on echo. Worth having done though with a strong family history although I know how you feel about your child having an echo - still turns my stomach every time.

Good luck with it and I hope she turns out to have only an innocent murmer.

Love Emma
xxx

 

[aussigal]

I was just talking to my sister and her friend had her baby and her Bi-cuspid aortic valve ( and coarctation I think cos she was operated on soon after birth or was it in-utero) diagnosed at 12 weeks of pregnancy

...so wow that must be some good echo-scanner they used but in some of the private hospitals here they have managed to afford huge expensive machines which will show this stuff up so early its amazing.

 

[msiwik]

Echocardiograms for kids

Echocardiograms for kids

Just to finish sharing our story. In part because of the discussion here, we had our children (9 and 12) seen by a pediatric cardioligist with a dual speciality in adult congenital diseases. He ordered echos and an ekg and focused specifically on the aortic valve (my problem). All the tests were negative for bicuspid aortic valve disease and he felt that having echos done were the only cost-effective way to rule it out. He also felt no need to see the kids again, even when they become college-age. Best regards to all,

Mark

 

[Marguerite53]

at 18 years...

at 18 years...

I had my daughter's echo done this summer as a screening. She is 18. The aortic valve came out as clear as a bell. I was across the room and it was like a Mercedes Benz ad. Huge sigh of relief. My cardio is top notch and has a very state of the art facility. I have seen 3 different techs, there, now, and they all seem to be much more skilled and complete than most of my techs in the past (from 25 years of echoes). There is such a variation in the quality of the equipment and the determination and skill of the tech. It sounds like you are going to a very specialized place. I would be confident that the echo would reveal very important information for you. What the cardio chooses to do with the information will be important to you too. Please be sure to get a copy of the echo report and start a file at home for your daughter.

Please keep us posted. There are many of us who are trying to keep up on the latest opinion as to whether the defects are inherited. With all my fancy state of the art equipment, I still have a cardio who claims there is no reason to believe my children are similarly afflicted! Be very glad that you have a cardiologist who is willing to ask for a screening.

Best of luck!! Knowledge is power. Let us know!

Marguerite

 

[Natanni]

Mark and Margaruite

Mark and Margaruite

I really appreciate your replies! Thank you It looks like I will persure the echos for our daughter. Our pediatrician was very confident that my didn't neet evaluation and gave him clearance for his football and ice hockey.

Mark and Margurite--Did any of your kids have murmurs? I am irked that until I actually brought my kids in specifically to be listened to for murmurs, none was heard before in any of their well being child checks. Frustrating.

 

[aussigal]

none of my boys' murmurs were ever reported to me before their scans either...

 

[msiwik]

I really appreciate your replies! Thank you It looks like I will persure the echos for our daughter. Our pediatrician was very confident that my didn't neet evaluation and gave him clearance for his football and ice hockey.

Mark and Margurite--Did any of your kids have murmurs? I am irked that until I actually brought my kids in specifically to be listened to for murmurs, none was heard before in any of their well being child checks. Frustrating.

The pediatrician thought he detected a murmur when my son was very young and long before my situation arose. He's now 9 and there has been no reoccurrence and the echo showed his heart to be completely healthy. Good luck to you and yours.

 

[Marguerite53]

about murmurs

about murmurs

None of my children have murmurs. Only the girl has been tested (screened -- echo -- I paid cash ) as she is athletic and in D3 sports now. The boys, no murmurs, no indications, no tests; perfect hearts as far as I know.

I have not had surgery. They assume my defect is from birth. No Rheumatic fever. I did have a sudden, undiagnosed very high fever as an infant, though. My murmur was detected by a new doctor I began seeing at age 25 (or so). I'm now 51. Why it wasn't heard before then no one can say. 3 years ago we switched insurance and I got a new PCP. She's very young, astute, and I love her. The first time she listened to my heart her eyes almost bounced out of her head and she actually had to compose herself to ask me if I knew I had a murmur. (it was very cute and endearing). At least, now it's obvious!

I'm abit confused, do you have 2 sons? I would very strongly urge you to ask the school athletic director what they have in place in your school district to screen children. I dont' want to rain on any sports parades here, but please, just for peace of mind, seek out a way to get an echo for your athletic son, too. Why not? Both football and ice hockey are very demanding and strenuous. If in fact these things are running in families, wouldn't you like to have someone have a look? It's just a look! Many MANY of us had no murmurs and no symptoms, but did have defects. I don't want to scare the dickens out of you, but as you've read here, some families have variations -- you wouldn't want an undiagnosed aneurism in a football player.

I'm sorry if I've overstepped in any way due to the late hour for me and not being completely clear on your situation. Still and all, if a doctor is willing to screen a child, I would certainly do it!
Let us know. Marguerite

 

[aussigal]

The "word" straight from my Kids' ardioligist is its easier to see these things on kids with an echo cos usually their chests arent as developed yet as adults.