Pediatric Autonomic Dysfunction (PAD) clinic

Providing care to patients with cardiovascular symptoms of autonomic dysfunction (including POTS).  These symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, tachycardia, near fainting and fainting.

The primary goal of the PAD clinic is to improve the patient’s overall quality of life. Initial management includes non-pharmacologic treatments including hydration and optimization of nutrition and exercise. If these interventions do not improve symptoms medications are considered including fludrocortisone, midodrine or possibly a beta-blocker.

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Some testing that may be provided at your visit…

5 to 10-minute standing test
Measures your child’s heart rate and blood pressure when they move from lying down to standing up.

12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
This is a test that records heart rate and rhythm and provides additional information about heart chamber size.

Holter monitoring
A portable EKG that records rhythm over a 12-to-24-hour period. Holter monitors can be worn for longer periods, if necessary, to obtain information for longer periods.

Event recording
A small device is provided for outpatient monitoring of heart rate and rhythm. When a child experiences chest pain, dizziness or other symptoms that may be related to abnormalities of rate or rhythm, the device is placed on the chest, and a recording is made for 30 seconds. The information can then be called to the Heart Station over a telephone.

Transthoracic echocardiography
High frequency sound waves are used to create a two-dimensional picture of the heart. The test is performed with a device, called a transducer, that is placed on the chest. The transducer sends out and then collects the high frequency sound waves. The information is stored in a bedside machine that records the images and displays them on a TV monitor.

Lab tests
Evaluates your child’s blood and urine to look for medical conditions

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