Cardiology (Pediatrics)

Who do we treat?
 Inpatients at Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital: Preterm infants, newborns, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients, pediatric wards, etc.

Ambulatory Clinic: For cardiological evaluation and follow-up of children from the community.

Fetal Echocardiogram Services: For pregnant women from the community referred for testing, as well as  patients from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Lis Maternity and Women's Hospital.

Fields of Activity

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects, accounting for approximately 40% of all congenital malformations. Their prevalence is estimated at 11.6 per 1,000 births. In a small number of cases, these involve complex defects, sometimes appearing alongside other non-cardiac congenital anomalies. Only 10%–20% of cases are part of a genetic or chromosomal disorder; in the majority of cases, the cause remains unknown.

Genetic screening performed during pregnancy is often insufficient to diagnose heart defects on its own. However, these defects especially significant ones, can be diagnosed prenatally through early and late anatomy scans or via a fetal echocardiogram performed by a pediatric cardiologist. Following diagnosis, comprehensive counseling is provided based on the findings. In some cases, particularly with more severe defects, CHD is diagnosed in the first days after birth.

In milder cases, such as a tiny Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), the infant or child may be asymptomatic, and the defect is discovered incidentally due to a heart murmur detected during auscultation. In contrast, in more severe cases, the infant may present signs of heart failure—such as shortness of breath, sweating during feeding, feeding difficulties, and slow weight gain—or a cyanotic (bluish) appearance. The clinical manifestation varies according to the type and severity of the defect; therefore, diagnosis may occur shortly after birth or later in life.

Diagnosis is based on family history, symptoms, physical examination (including murmur auscultation), electrocardiogram (ECG), and echocardiography, which demonstrates the structure and function of the heart. If necessary, further evaluation can be completed using imaging tests such as CT or MRI.

In some cases, congenital heart defects resolve without intervention, and in others, they remain but do not interfere with a full life. Children with mild defects usually lead normal lives. Conversely, significant defects require treatment as early as infancy, including medication, surgery, and/or cardiac catheterization. Defects that can be fully repaired usually allow for a normal life, while those that cannot be fully corrected may require repeated interventions and long-term follow-up to prevent complications.

Acquired Heart Diseases

Relatively speaking, there are few acquired heart diseases in children and few problems resulting from "wear and tear" of cardiac components. However, several significant diseases can appear during childhood:

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and Pericarditis (inflammation of the heart’s lining): These diseases may appear acutely, usually following an infection, and can significantly impair heart function.

Rheumatic Fever: A disease caused by exposure to Group A Streptococcus infection, which can lead to heart valve damage.

Kawasaki Disease: An inflammatory disease that can affect the coronary arteries, potentially leading to future disturbances in blood supply to the heart muscle itself.

Cardiac Function Monitoring for Oncology Patients

For children with various malignancies whose treatment (chemotherapy) may impair heart function, we conduct regular, long-term monitoring. This population is also sensitive to significant infections and blood clots during intensive treatments; we work to detect and treat these conditions. It is important to note that cardiac dysfunction can appear many years after the completion of chemotherapy, which is why long-term follow-up is now performed every few years.

Fetal Echocardiogram

Detecting and identifying congenital heart defects. If a defect or disease is identified in the fetus, we provide counseling to the parents and treat the findings accordingly. In fetuses diagnosed with arrhythmias (heart rhythm disorders), medical treatment can be administered to the fetus by giving medication to the mother, in collaboration with the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Rhythm Disorders (Arrhythmias)

Various conditions in children manifest as different types of arrhythmias. These can be mild and asymptomatic or, in some cases, life-threatening. Through various tests (ECG, Holter, stress test, etc.), a basic diagnosis can usually be reached. Subsequently, these disorders can be treated with medication or invasive interventions, such as cardiac catheterization for the ablation of abnormal electrical pathways. Similar to children, fetuses may also experience arrhythmias, which can usually be diagnosed and treated via fetal echocardiogram.

Clinic Activity:

Heart Clinics: 3 times a week

Fetal Echocardiogram: Twice a week

Surgeries | Treatments | Tests:

Fetal Echocardiogram : A specialized ultrasound examination used to evaluate the fetal heart in utero during pregnancy.

Congenital heart defects (CHD) result from the abnormal development of the heart and great vessels during fetal life. These defects affect approximately 8 out of every 1,000 live births, representing the largest group of congenital malformations and the second leading cause of neonatal death following perinatal causes. About half of these heart defects are considered severe, requiring catheterization or surgical intervention within the first months of life. Duct-dependent lesions constitute a unique group that requires medical treatment immediately from birth, making their accurate diagnosis especially critical.

A fetal echocardiogram allows for the visualization of the heart's structure and its blood vessels, blood flow through its various parts, myocardial thickness, cardiac function, and rhythm. This examination involves no radiation and carries no known risk to the mother or the fetus.

Contact Us

Appointment Scheduling: 03-6974000

Email: pcr-c@tlvmc.gov.il

Clinic: 03-6974521

Fax: 03-6947577