In-house EKG services
Pediatric testing
Expert evaluation
Easy scheduling
Familiar faces
Let’s get to the heart of the matter
Electrocardiograms (EKGs) are an important clinical tool used to detect abnormal heart rhythms, heart murmurs, congenital heart defects, and other pediatric heart concerns that may cause symptoms like:
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fainting
An EKG may be required as part of pre-participation sports clearance or as a follow-up for abnormal findings on a routine exam. We also use EKGs to help monitor existing congenital heart conditions.
All EKG testing and results are coordinated by your Valle Verde Pediatrics care team, so pediatric specialists are always involved in your child’s heart care.
How we partner with heart specialists
At Valle Verde Pediatrics, we take your child’s health to heart!
Because of our partnership with Pomerado Hospital and Rady Children’s Hospital, we are able to submit your child’s results directly to a heart specialist for evaluation. All EKG results are carefully interpreted by pediatric heart specialists.
Once the results are read, we can do a virtual consultation with the specialist to assess our next steps. If they determine that a higher level of cardiac care is needed, our team will coordinate directly with pediatric cardiologists and other specialists to ensure seamless follow-up and continuity of care for your child and family.
What your child’s EKG results mean
A normal EKG shows a healthy and regular heartbeat with a consistent pattern of intervals (waves) between the beats. A child’s normal heart rate can range from 60 to 190 beats per minute, depending on their age.
An abnormal EKG reveals any irregularities in heart activity, such as beating too slowly or too fast. Your child’s heart could also skip beats or have extra beats. Some of these variations are minor, while others can indicate serious heart issues like arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, or congenital heart defects (which are present from birth).
EKG testing is non-invasive and painless
Your pediatric provider attaches small, sticker-like electrodes to your child’s chest, arms, and legs, which are then connected by wires to the EKG machine to record their heart’s electrical signals. Your child can listen to music or watch videos to stay calm and still while the test is conducted.
The electrodes are removed after the test is complete. Pediatric heart specialists then review the results to check for any abnormalities.