How are arrhythmias diagnosed?

How are arrhythmias diagnosed?

The doctor will begin with a thorough history, including a review of symptoms, and a physical exam. He or she might order blood tests to rule out medications and infections as the cause of the arrhythmia. The doctor may do a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heartbeat, to see if it is beating regularly. The doctor might consult a pediatric cardiologist, a doctor who specializes in children’s heart disorders.

If your child does not have symptoms of arrhythmia at the time of the ECG, the doctor might order a different type of device to record your child’s heartbeat. These include portable monitors you take home with you that continuously record your child’s heartbeat over a period of days to months. Implantable monitors that can be worn for up to a year or more are also available.

Other tests that might be needed, depending on your child’s situation, include:

• Electrophysiology tests — During this test, a small, thin tube is inserted into a blood vessel in the leg or arm and advanced to the heart. This allows the doctor to find the site of the arrhythmia’s origin within the heart tissue.
• Tilt table test — This test is often used in children who have frequent fainting episodes. A tilt table test shows how the heart rate and blood pressure respond to a change in position, lying down to standing up.