Introduction

The science and practice of pediatric cardiology involves the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease, abnormalities of the conduction system, and acquired disorders of the heart. The spectrum of pediatric cardiology clinical practice extends from fetal life well into adulthood, since adults born with congenital heart disease have become a rapidly growing population in recent decades. The improved survival and outcomes of children with congenital heart disease stems from advances in diagnostic imaging techniques, understanding of cardiogenetics, and innovative interventional catheterization and surgical procedures. Current advanced fellowship training for both pediatric and internist cardiologists aim to develop clinical experts in the care of adults with congenital heart disease. Effective communication and establishing long-lasting physician-patient relationships with patients and their families are salient features and the cornerstone of pediatric cardiology practice.

We provide users of this guide with a practical, accurate, and timely approach to the care of patients who present to a pediatric cardiologist, whether it be in the hospital, an emergency ambulatory center, or an outpatient clinic. We hope that you will find this guide useful in your education and practice.

This rotation guide covers the following five domains of pediatric cardiology, and the content is organized according to an age-based, developmental approach (fetal, neonatal [birth to 1 month], infancy [1 month to 2 years], childhood [2 to 12 years], and adolescence [12 to <16 years]) that is consistent with the general approach to medical problems in pediatrics.

Other important topics related to cardiology are covered in the following rotation guides:

Circulation and Congenital Heart Disease (Neonatal Care)
Kawasaki Disease (Pediatric Rheumatology)
Hypertension (Nephrology)

Ruchika Karnik, MBBS, is a general pediatric cardiologist with expertise in imaging, including transthoracic, transesophageal, and fetal echocardiography. She completed the Medical Education Fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine Teaching and Learning Center and contributed to the curriculum redesign for pediatric cardiology rotations. She is Associate Program Director for the Yale Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship and a member of the Association of the Pediatric Program Director—Subspecialty Pediatric Investigator Network (APPD SPIN).

This rotation guide was developed by a collaborative team of contributors including:
Writers: Chandni Patel, MD and M. Abigail Simmons, MD
Peer Reviewers: Adam Langenfeld, MD; Kurt Bjorkman, MD; Tanya Murtha, MD; Andrea Otero-Luna, MD; Michael Kim, MD; Timothy Rogers, MD; Nina Morgan, MD; Robert Trevino, MD; Matthew Erlich, MD; and Helen Padden, MD
Editor: Ruchika Karnik, MD (Section Expert); Michele Spencer-Manzon, MD (Cardiogenetics)
Senior Editor: Julie Ingelfinger, MD
Last Updated: November 2023 by Michelle Degen, MD

Brief Case Presentations with Videos

Pediatric Cardiology Videos in Clinical Medicine

Managing Procedural Anxiety in Children

Kraus BS et al. N Engl J Med 2016.

This video describes the signs of acute anxiety in children and demonstrates approaches to interacting with children that minimize anxiety and maximize cooperation.

Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in Children