Pediatrix Cardiology of South Florida

About Our Practice

Pediatrix Cardiology of South Florida provides comprehensive cardiology care to patients throughout southern Florida. Our pediatric and adult congenital cardiologists treat patients of all ages, including pregnant women and their developing babies, infants, children, adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease.

As the community has changed over the years, the type of patients we see has also changed. While congenital heart disease is still the primary condition we treat, we also assess patients with a wide variety of symptoms, including palpitations, fainting, heart murmurs and chest pain. We screen children and teens prior to sports participation, perform cardiac evaluations for children taking medication for attention deficit disorder, and assess, educate and treat children with high blood pressure or high cholesterol. However, our services aren’t limited to children; we provide cardiac evaluation of the fetus and management of adults with congenital heart disease.

To better serve the community, our group has grown to include more physicians providing services in offices strategically placed within Broward, Martin, Miami Dade, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties. We strive to ensure children in our care are always close to home. And when close to home isn’t close enough, we offer telehealth services, when appropriate, to minimize the time you spend at the doctor. We have a cardiologist on call 24/7 to answer questions and address concerns.

In addition to outpatient care, our doctors provide consultative services for fetal, pediatric and adult congenital patients at many hospitals throughout South Florida. We work closely with several pediatric cardiac surgery programs throughout the state, and even elsewhere, to ensure that if your child needs inpatient cardiac care, he or she will receive the best care possible.

Insurance Options
Hospital Affiliations
- Boca Raton Regional Hospital
- Broward Health Coral Springs
- Broward Health Imperial Point
- Broward Health Medical Center
- Broward Health North
- Delray Medical Center
- Good Samaritan Medical Center
- Holy Cross Hospital Fl
- JFK Medical Center
- Jupiter Medical Center
- Lawnwood Regional Medical Center
- Martin Memorial Medical Center
- Memorial Hospital Miramar
- Memorial Hospital West
- Memorial Regional Hospital
- Northwest Medical Center Fl
- Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
- Palms West Hospital
- Plantation General Hospital
- St Lucie Medical Center
- St Mary’s Medical Center
- Wellington Regional Medical Center
- West Boca Medical Center
- Westside Regional Medical Center

Our Approach

Patient and family involvement are very important to us. It helps parents and patients make better decisions and is an essential factor in the success of ongoing care. We strongly encourage and support preventive medicine by offering counseling for and management of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

Cardiology FAQs

What can I expect at the first visit?
The pediatric cardiology team will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, which will include:
- A physical examination
- Height, weight and blood pressure measurements
- Family history
- Medical history
As part of the evaluation, the pediatric cardiologist may also conduct additional tests to reach a diagnosis. Two of the more commonly performed tests include an electrocardiogram (ECG) and an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). The tests that are recommended and the questions the pediatric cardiologist will ask during the medical and family history will depend on the reason for the visit.
Murmur: What is a heart murmur, and what should I expect with my visit?

A murmur is a sound heard by the stethoscope. Sometimes, murmurs represent the normal working of the heart, but sometimes they can represent a problem like a hole or valve narrowing. The pediatric cardiologist may order testing based on the patient’s age, history or exam.

Your cardiologist will perform a careful examination and likely an (ECG). Additional testing, such as an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart), may be performed based on the patient’s symptoms, history, the exam or the ECG results.
Chest pain: What should I expect during the visit?
You will be asked several questions about your chest pain. Does it occur during exercise? Does it occur while eating or when laying down? How often does it happen? Is there anything that makes it better? They may do testing, such as:
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- An echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart)
- A cardiac stress test (an exercise test done on a treadmill or stationary bicycle)
Palpitations: What are palpitations, and what should I expect during my visit?
If your child's heart is pounding or racing, he or she may be experiencing palpitations. This sensation can be felt in the chest, throat or neck. The team will ask about when the palpitations happen and how often they occur. They will ask whether the symptoms are with exercise, without exercise or both.

They may do testing, such as:
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- An echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart)
- A holter monitor (a continuous rhythm recorder worn for one to seven days)
- An event monitor (a rhythm recorder worn for a month that is activated by the patient during symptoms)
- A cardiac stress test (an exercise test done on a treadmill or stationary bicycle)
Passing out (also called syncope): What should I expect during the visit?
There are many reasons for passing out. Your cardiologist will ask about what the patient was doing when they passed out and consider some common causes (e.g., dehydration, illness, seeing blood, standing up too quickly ). They will ask about how the patient felt before passing out and whether the child has passed out during or after exercise. They will ask about your family history. They may do testing, such as:
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- An echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart)
- A cardiac stress test (an exercise test done on a treadmill or stationary bicycle)
High blood pressure: What should I expect during the visit?
The team will check height, weight and blood pressure. They may do testing, such as:
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- An echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart)
High cholesterol: What should I expect during the visit?

The team will check height, weight and blood pressure. They will ask about family history and the patient's diet and exercise habits. They will review the laboratory results and make recommendations based on age, the exam, family history and medical history. It would be helpful to know about close relatives with early-onset heart disease (before age 55 in males and 65 in females).

Services Offered

ADHD Screening

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.
Echocardiography
Event Monitoring
Exercise Testing
Fetal Echo
Holter Monitoring
Inpatient Care
Outpatient Care
Preventative Cardiology
Sports Clearance

Conditions Treated

Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

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.
Arrhythmia
Cardiomyopathy

A disease of the heart, causing its muscles to become enlarged, thick or ridged. The heart's lessened ability to pump blood effectively can cause fluid buildup in other parts of the body. As the disease worsens, the heart becomes weaker, causing irregular heartbeats, or arrhythmias, and heart failure.
Chest Pain
Congenital Heart Disease

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.
Fetal Cardiac Abnormalities
Heart Murmur

Sounds heard when listening to the heart. They may be innocent (normal) or organic (caused by valve abnormalities or holes in the heart, for example). A physical examination by a pediatric cardiologist, in addition to an electrocardiogram, and in some cases an echocardiogram, will distinguish between innocent and organic murmurs.
Hyperlipidemia
Long QT Syndrome
Syncope

The most common cause of fainting, 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.

Fetal Heart Institute of Florida

Learning your unborn baby may have a heart problem is a scary, emotional time — one we do not want you to go through alone. Our Fetal Heart Institute of Florida, part of Pediatrix® Cardiology of South Florida, supports expectant families whose developing babies require specialized heart care. We work closely with each family to provide an accurate diagnosis and build a personalized care plan for their baby’s unique needs. It would be an honor for our highly specialized, compassionate team to join your family throughout this journey.

Learn more

Congenital Heart Disease Program for Adults

The majority of patients born with congenital heart disease (CHD) survive into adulthood thanks to medical advancements. Today an estimated 1.5 million adults are living with CHD in the United States. Our practice is pleased to provide the expertise and ongoing care needed by this complex group of patients who require lifelong follow-up. Dr. Todd S. Roth and Dr. David Briston are two of the few fellowship-trained, board certified adult congenital cardiologists in Florida. Dr. Roth also directs the state’s first nationally accredited Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. The program—one of only 35 in the nation—serves patients from Miami to St. Lucie County.