Using Tissue Doppler/Synchronization to Determine Heart Function in Children With Congenital Heart Disease

There are many children that have heart dysfunction because they are either born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) or developed poor heart function because their hearts are ill. The invention of medical technology helps in the treatment of these children. New heart echocardiogram (echo) techniques including Tissue Doppler (TDI), Tissue Synchronization Imaging (TSI) and 3 dimensional echocardiography (3D) are imaging technologies that we hope will help in the diagnosis and treatment of these children. Tissue Doppler Imaging is a noninvasive technique that measures the speed of heart muscle movement. Tissue Synchronization Imaging measures how well the lower pumping chambers of the heart are working together. A 3D echo is a 3 dimensional picture of a beating heart that allows your doctor to see the heart from any angle. These techniques are noninvasive, meaning on the outside of your body. The size and function of the ventricles (the lower part of the heart) can change under different conditions. Using these techniques we will attempt to better determine how well the ventricles function during illness and health.