Cardiac Imaging
The first step to fixing your child’s heart condition is understanding what’s causing it. At Atrium Health Levine Children’s, our doctors use advanced technology to take high-resolution images of your child’s heart. This helps us create a custom care plan that gives every patient the best chance of living a happy, healthy life.
Imaging services
Levine Children’s state-of-the-art imaging technologies include:
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. This non-invasive tool takes moving pictures of the heart so doctors can understand your child’s condition – without using radiation. We use echocardiograms to:
- Diagnose structural and functional heart disease in the womb
- Diagnose structural and functional heart disease in babies and children
- Diagnose heart rhythm abnormalities in the womb
- Monitor the heart before, during and after surgery
Our imaging specialists have spent decades evaluating every type of heart defect in kids of all ages. This expertise helps us pinpoint what’s causing your child’s condition, so we can help their heart team create the most effective treatment plan. Our imaging lab is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), which certifies that we provide top quality patient care.
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
We may use CT scans to examine your child's heart and better understand their condition. We’re one of the region’s only children’s hospitals offering cardiac MRI, which uses radio waves to take extremely detailed pictures of your child’s heart. Our congenital cardiac radiologists use this technology to create 2D and 3D images of your child’s heart. This gives our doctors insight into why your child’s heart and blood vessels might not work properly.
3D printing
Every pediatric heart condition is unique, and so is how we treat it. Because of this, some patients with complex conditions benefit when a 3D model is used as part of their care.
The Ganatra 3D Printing Laboratory at Atrium Health Levine Children’s is the only one in Charlotte with this technology. In addition to patient education, we use 3D models to better understand your child’s condition, plan for procedures, like interventional heart catheterizations and surgeries, and shape a treatment strategy specific to them.
Supportive services
A heart condition affects every part of your child’s life. That’s why we offer resources to support kids and their families, including:
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Camp LUCK. This summer camp is for kids with heart conditions and their siblings. Camp LUCK helps children build a community with other kids who are having similar experiences.
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The HEARTest Yard. A program that provides in-home nursing support for children and families as they transition home from the hospital. This program is funded by the Greg Olsen Foundation and was launched after the former Carolina Panthers football player and his wife, Kara, had a baby with a severe heart defect.
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Cardiac neurodevelopmental program. Sometimes heart conditions can affect a child’s brain development and lead to things like learning delays. Our brain development experts will help your child overcome any challenges that come up as they grow.
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Child life specialists. These specialists help children and their families with things like getting ready for medical procedures. They can also help your child’s teachers and classmates understand their illness.
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Nurse navigators. These nurses support and build close relationships with each patient and family. They become experts on each child’s condition and medical history, teach parents at-home care, attend appointments to answer questions, discuss treatments and more.
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Nutritionists. Our nutritionists make sure kids have a balanced diet and are getting the nutrients they need to stay strong.
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Pastoral care. Our chaplains offer religious and spiritual support when families request a visit.
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Social workers. They help families cope by connecting them with things like counseling, support groups and financial assistance.
Why choose Levine Children's?
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Advanced tools and technology. Our partnership with Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute gives us access to the latest, most innovative heart imaging tools. For example, we use 3D printers to create real-life models of a child’s heart based on their MRIs and CT scans. This lets us study their condition from every angle, so we can plan procedures that will work best for their anatomy.
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Specialized experts. Many of our doctors spent extra years in intensive training, learning how to use the latest imaging techniques to help kids like yours. This includes congenital cardiac radiologists who specialize in performing ultrasounds on babies in the womb.
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Comprehensive team. Levine Children’s is one of the few places in our region where patients have access not only to top imaging specialists but also to pediatric cardiologists, surgeons and other experts in one place. Our imaging team works hand in hand with these other doctors to evaluate your child’s imaging results and plan the best treatment.
The HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center
1001 Blythe Blvd., Suite 500
Charlotte, NC 28203
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