Diagnosis

This week we will discuss how Long QT Syndrome (abbreviated LQTS) in our pediatric population is diagnosed. As I have mentioned in the previous blog posts, this condition is often unknown until a child experiences very serious cardiac symptoms such as loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest (Gajewski & Saul 2010).  In an optimal situation a first responder would begin CPR and utilize a nearby defibrillator to revive the child to limit potential long-term consequences of this event. Once the child is transported to the hospital the workup for the cause and further treatment of the cardiac arrest begins. Laboratory tests may be completed in order to rule out any electrolyte abnormalities or other causes of symptoms. While no blood draw is fun for anyone, here’s a great example of how setting up a positive environment and teamwork with providers and caregivers can make a non-traumatic experience for the child:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UNP0Gjx2F4

Most importantly to diagnose Long QT Syndrome, an EKG or ECG (same test, different name) is completed to study the conduction of the heart. In this test sticky monitors are placed on the child’s body to create a picture of how the heart is functioning. These electrodes do not cause any pain/discomfort.

Here’s a kid-friendly video that shows what an EKG/ECG is like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSc0Trc_d88

Most importantly a pediatric cardiologist will be involved in the immediate and long-term management of this child’s cardiac condition. Many hospitals are offering prophylactic screening with EKG’s during annual sports physicals of young athletes to try to identify a problem such as LQTS before it becomes a life-threatening issue in that child. Here’s a video from Miami Children’s Hospital describing how helpful these screenings can be to a child’s overall health:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVX37frwDMA

Source:

Gajewski, K., & Saul, J. (2010). Sudden cardiac death in children and adolescents (excluding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Annual Pediatric Cardiology, 3(2), 107-112. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3017912/

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