How is atrial septal defect diagnosed?
Your child may need one or more of the following tests: • Cardiac catheterization: A cardiac catheterization is a test to see how well your child’s heart is working. It is also used to see how well the blood vessels connected to the heart are doing. A special tube is threaded into your child’s heart through a blood vessel in his arm, leg, or neck. Dye may be given so x-ray pictures of your child’s blood vessels show up better on a TV-like screen. Your child’s caregiver may also measure the pressure inside your child’s heart. • Chest x-ray: This is a picture of your child’s lungs and heart. Caregivers use it to see how your child’s lungs and heart are doing. Caregivers may use the x-ray to look for signs of infection (such as pneumonia) or other problems. • Doppler: A doppler test is done to check blood flow in the heart. A small metal disc with gel is placed on your child’s chest. Caregivers may hear abnormal sounds when an ASD is present. • Echocardiogram: This test is also called an
