OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

CABANATUAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Garcia, Nehemiah B.
BSN 2Y2- 2A

NCMA 219 LEC

Course Task # 6 Pediatrics

QUESTION:

Describe and discuss the different Diagnostic and Laboratory procedures done on pediatric
clients with congenital heart Disease.

ANSWER:

Different Diagnostic and Laboratory procedures don on Pediatrics Patients.

Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests Description

Blood Tests Children with congenital (present at birth) heart
disease may have blood tests done to help the
physician evaluate their illness, or to help monitor
their health after surgery

Complete blood count - a measurement of size,

number, and maturity of different blood cells in a
specific volume of blood. Red blood cells are
important because they carry oxygen through the
bloodstream to the organs and cells of the body.
Having too few red blood cells can make a child
feel tired, and having too many red blood cells
may also indicate a problem.
Electrolytes - minerals in the bloodstream such as
sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium (that
are important for the proper function of organs)
may be measured. Electrolytes may be out of
balance when a child is taking diuretics. 
Total protein and albumin - these tests can help
 OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY
CABANATUAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF NURSING

evaluate a child's nutritional status. 

Prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin
time (PTT), and international normalized ratio
(INR) - tests done to evaluate the effectiveness of
anticoagulant drugs (also known as blood
thinners) taken for various heart problems,
including artificial valve replacement and
irregular heart rhythms. 
Blood gas - a blood sample taken from an artery
that measures the amounts of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in the bloodstream, as well as the acidity
or pH of the blood.

Pulse oximetry testing In newborns, pulse oximetry screening checks for

signs of congenital (present at birth) heart defects,
some critical, that may otherwise go
undetected. Pulse ox screening measures the
amount of oxygen in the blood with a simple,
quick, painless, noninvasive, and inexpensive test.
Pulse ox screening involves taping a small sensor
(similar to an adhesive bandage) to the finger or
toe.

Exercise Testing An exercise test is performed by an Exercise

Physiologist to assess the heart's response to stress
or exercise. It can be scheduled to assess patient’s
symptoms or to monitor their cardiac status over
time following heart surgery.
During the test, an EKG (also called ECG) is
monitored while your child is exercising on a
treadmill or stationary bike. An EKG tracing and
blood pressure measurement will be taken at
certain points during the test to compare the
effects of increasing stress on the heart.

Echocardiography Echocardiography is a procedure used to assess

the heart's structures and function.
 OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY
CABANATUAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Echocardiography is also called echo, cardiac

ultrasound or ultrasonography, cardiac Doppler,
transthoracic echocardiography, or TTE
A small probe called a transducer is placed on
your child's chest and sends out ultrasonic sound
waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When
the transducer is placed on your child's chest in
certain locations and at certain angles, the
ultrasonic sound waves move through the skin and
other body tissues to the heart tissues, where the
waves bounce (or "echo") off of the heart
structures

Cardiac Catheterization During a cardiac cath, cardiologists insert long,

flexible tubes (catheters) into veins or arteries of
the legs or arms and guide them into the heart or
surrounding blood vessels. The catheters can be
adapted with scopes, balloons and other tools to
help perform a variety of diagnostic interventional
(treatment) techniques.

Fetal Echocardiography Fetal echocardiography is an ultrasound test

performed during pregnancy to evaluate the heart
of the unborn baby fetal echocardiography can
help detect fetal heart abnormalities before birth.
Echocardiography assesses the heart's structures
and function. A small probe called a transducer
(similar to a microphone) is placed on the
mother's abdomen and sends out ultrasonic sound
waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When
the transducer is placed in certain locations and at
certain angles, the ultrasonic sound waves move
through the mother's and baby's skin and other
body tissues to the baby's heart tissues, where the
waves bounce (or "echo") off of the heart
structures. The transducer picks up the reflected
waves and sends them to a computer. The
computer interprets the echoes into an image of
the heart walls and valves.
 OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY
CABANATUAN CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Holter Monitoring The Holter monitor test is used to record your

child's EKG tracing continuously for a period of
24 hours or longer. When your child feels one or
more symptoms, such as chest pain, dizziness, or
palpitations, one of you will push a button on the
event monitor recorder. Some monitors have a
feature called "memory loop recording," in which
the monitor can include a recording of a short
period of time prior to the moment you triggered
the recording and afterwards.