Diagnosing Ebstein's Anomaly

How Is Ebstein's Anomaly Diagnosed?

Your physician may have heard a heart murmur during a physical examination and referred you to a cardiologist for a diagnosis. A heart murmur is a noise caused by the turbulence of blood flowing through the obstruction from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.

A cardiologist specializes in the diagnosis and medical management of congenital heart defects, as well as heart problems that may develop later in life. The cardiologist will perform a physical examination, listening to your heart and lungs, and make other observations that help in the diagnosis. The location within the chest that the murmur is heard best, as well as the loudness and quality of the murmur (harsh, blowing, etc.) will give the cardiologist an initial idea of which heart problem you may have. Diagnostic testing for congenital heart disease varies by age, clinical condition, and institutional preferences. Some tests that may be recommended include the following: