Wali Gauvin, MD
The Healthy Heart Center offers cardiology services, weight management, nutrition counseling and much more!
The PM Kidz Healthy Heart Center specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease for pediatric and young adult patients. We pride ourselves on providing excellent care and making the patient and family feel comfortable during the visit. We know that visiting a pediatric cardiologist can be stressful, so our dedicated staff takes extra care and attention to making sure the patient and family are comfortable. It is our goal to provide the best in pediatric cardiac care to our patients and educate the entire family. The Healthy Heart Center is directed by Dr. Wali Gauvin who is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist.
We specialize in Pediatric
Heart Health
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a recording of the electrical forces in the heart. It allows for the detection of heart rhythm abnormalities such as supraventricular tachycardia or atrioventricular block. It can be done on children of any age and is completely painless.
An echocardiogram (or “Echo” for short) is an ultrasound of the heart. A transducer which emits sound beams is placed on the child's chest to clearly visualize the heart structures. It is a completely painless procedure which typically takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete. It is used most commonly to evaluate for possible structural defects of the heart.
A cardiac event monitor is a small, portable device that can be used to record a patient’s heart rhythm during symptoms such as palpitations or chest pain. Typically cardiac event monitoring is used in situations where a patient's symptoms may be relatively infrequent. Our office provides cardiac event monitoring for varying periods of time.
A sports clearance evaluation is an in-depth assessment of a child’s heart to determine if he or she is at risk of sudden cardiac death. The evaluation includes a review of the child’s medical history and risk factors, as well as an EKG, echocardiogram and/or additional types of testing.
Medication clearance is a cardiac evaluation for children who have a medical history of cardiac disease and are either currently undergoing, or are being considered for stimulant therapy. The evaluation may include an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) to determine if the child’s heart is beating as it should and serve as a baseline for future comparison.
The doctors and staff at PM Kidz Healthy Heart Center offer a range of treatments for children and teens who have overweight or obesity. We stress prevention and obesity-related health care. Our goal is to create a weight management program focusing on improving the health of your child and family.
For children and teens struggling with obesity, our focus is on changing your child’s and family's diet. We will discuss your child’s current eating habits and we’ll provide recommendations on how to change your child's dietary intake. Families may meet with the physician to discuss how to make positive lifestyle changes.
Preventive cardiology care is the comprehensive evaluation of a child’s family history, current medical condition, and activity level to make dietary, exercise and medical recommendations.
An arrhythmia is an electrical disturbance of the heart. Common arrhythmias in pediatric patients include premature ventricular or atrial contractions, as well as supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Our cardiologist is an expert in the diagnosis and management of pediatric arrhythmias.
Heart murmurs are sounds heard when listening to the heart. They may be innocent (normal) or pathologic (caused by valve abnormalities or holes in the heart). A physical examination by a pediatric cardiologist, in addition to an electrocardiogram, and in some cases an echocardiogram, will distinguish between innocent and pathologic murmurs.
Long QT syndrome is a disorder of the heart’s electrical activity that is either inherited or caused by a medication or condition. Children with long QT syndrome may experience irregular heart rates, or arrhythmias, when exposed to exercise or stress, sudden fainting, seizures or even sudden death.
Hypertension represents one of several risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease later in life. More and more frequently hypertension is being identified as a problem in young people. The team at PM Kidz Healthy Heart Center are experts in the evaluation and management of pediatric hypertension.
Chest pain is a very common symptom in people of all ages. Fortunately, chest pain due to heart problems is fairly rare in children. In many cases chest pain in children is musculoskeletal in nature. Other potential causes of chest pain in young people include gastrointestinal or respiratory pain. There are some potential heart related causes of chest pain in young people; however they are fairly rare. They include inflammation of the lining of the heart, an abnormally thickened heart muscle, or a congenital abnormality of a coronary artery. Many families come to the doctor afraid that their child's chest pain is a warning sign of impending danger or risk. Fortunately this is almost never the case.
The term palpitations refers to a sensation that the heart is beating irregularly, faster, or harder than normal in the chest. Many times palpitations may be completely normal. However, it is important to thoroughly evaluate an individual who is having palpitations to rule out the possibility of any type of disease process.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a term used to describe a group of problems present at birth that affect the structure of the heart and/or the large vessels near the heart. There are many types of CHD. Some types may be detected before birth and, in some cases, may be treated before birth. Other types are not found until the baby is born, during childhood or in adulthood. Some of the more complex forms of heart disease that we treat include hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary valve atresia, pulmonary valve stenosis, aortic valve stenosis, atrioventricular canal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, Ebstein’s anomaly, and coarctation of the aorta, as well as many other forms of heart disease.
The term syncope means a sudden loss of consciousness. The term “near syncope” refers to the sensation of being dizzy or lightheaded and coming close to passing out although not completely. The most common cause of fainting or benign syncope, is when the body reacts to certain activities (such as standing up), by increasing the heart rate and/or blood pressure. The body then responds to this increase by decreasing the heart rate and/or blood pressure, sometimes causing a child to faint, or feel like they are going to faint.
Hyperlipidemia, or high cholesterol, is a condition where abnormally high levels of fats particles, also known as lipids, are found in the blood. An elevated cholesterol or triglyceride level can be a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis later in life. More and more frequently elevated lipid levels are being identified in children and teenagers. Our office offers comprehensive evaluation and management of young people with lipid disorders.
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a term used to describe a group of problems present at birth that affect the structure of the heart and/or the large vessels near the heart. There are many types of CHD. Some types may be detected before birth and, in some cases, may be treated before birth. Other types are not found until the baby is born, during childhood or in adulthood.
Kawasaki disease is an illness that causes inflammation (swelling) of medium sized blood vessels in the body. In some cases, the disease can affect the coronary arteries, which are blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This can cause serious heart problems. Children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease will need to be seen regularly by a cardiologist to make sure their heart is not affected.
Who needs to see a pediatric cardiologist?
A patient may be referred to a pediatric cardiologist for a variety of reasons, including:
- Concerning physical exam findings such as heart murmurs, elevated blood pressure, or bluish-purple hue to the skin (cyanosis)
- Family history of a parent or sibling with congenital heart disease or sudden death at a young age
- Symptoms of dizziness, fainting, chest pain, heart palpitations or difficulty breathing
- Abnormal heart rate - slow, rapid or irregular
- Abnormal lab results such as elevated cholesterol or triglycerides
- Suspected or known disease that may impact the heart such as Marfan's syndrome or Kawasaki Disease
- Ultrasound abnormality during pregnancy
What You Can Expect
Having your child be referred to a cardiologist can be a stressful experience. At PM Kidz Healthy Heart Center we do everything possible to help you and your family feel confident, safe and comfortable throughout your visit.
- Arrival and Check-In When you arrive at PM Kidz, you will be greeted by our friendly staff. Please check in at the front desk. Our waiting room always has a children's movie playing to make kids feel comfortable. Older children or teens may prefer to bring their phones or tablets to play games and watch shows.
- Vital Signs and Initial Assessment When it's your child's turn, a staff member will get you from the waiting room. We'll check your child's weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and pulse oximeter – a small device that lightly clamps to your child's finger to test how well oxygen is flowing through their body.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) Some children will need a specialized test called an electrocardiogram to check the rhythm of the heart. You may also hear us refer to this test as an EKG. During this test, your child will lie on an exam table and we will put special stickers on their chest, arms and legs. We then connect "leads," or wires to the stickers. Your child will have to lay still for a few seconds while we capture the rhythm of your child's heart. The stickers are then removed. This test is quick and painless.
- Echocardiogram (ECHO) Some visits also include an echocardiogram, a test to see the structure and function of your child's heart. Your child will lie on an exam table and the doctor will sit in a chair next to them. They will use a machine that is connected to a "wand". The doctor will put clear gel on the skin around your child's heart and put the wand in the gel. The wand acts like a camera that sees through your child's skin to view their heart and lungs. The doctor will then take pictures to review. This test is also painless.
- Checkout When your child's visit is complete the cardiologist will review and discuss your child's test results. Your child's primary physician will receive a visit summary to ensure continuity of care and the doctor will inform if your child requires a follow up visit.
Why Choose Us?
Dr. Gauvin is passionate about preventive cardiology. He helps to identify and treat risk factors, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as encourage healthy eating habits and exercise in children. He takes a holistic approach to treating each patient and works closely with your child's primary healthcare team to personalize care and ensure the best outcomes for the child and entire family.
Refer A Patient
Thank you for referring your patient to PM Kidz Healthy Heart Center. The pediatric team at PM Kidz Healthy Heart Center value the relationships we have with our referring physicians and welcome any feedback or comments you may have regarding our practice. We take care to reinforce your role as your patient's primary care physician and our role as a cardiac consultant.
or complete our Referral Form and fax it to our office at (240) 607-6749.
After Your Visit
Clear and timely communication with our referring physicians is important to us.
After your patient's visit, our physician will forward a summary of diagnostic reports and treatments to you as soon as it becomes available.
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