CARDIAC MURMURS
CARDIAC MURMURS: Excerpt from Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
Ask the following questions:
- Could the murmur be extracardiac in origin? Extracardiac murmurs include the pericardial friction rub and cardiorespiratory murmurs.
- Is the murmur continuous? A continuous murmur is most often due to a patent ductus arteriosus or combined valvular stenosis and insufficiency. However, arteriovenous aneurysms and ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva must also be considered.
- Is the murmur systolic or diastolic? Diastolic murmurs include aortic regurgitation and mitral stenosis and are always organic. Many systolic murmurs are functional in nature.
- Is there associated cardiomegaly? An enlarged heart associated with the murmur makes it more likely that it is pathologic. One would consider mitral regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, and aortic stenosis and various forms of congenital heart disease.
- Is there hepatomegaly? Hepatomegaly associated with the murmur would make one think of congestive heart failure or tricuspid regurgitation and tricuspid stenosis.
- Is there associated fever? Cardiac murmurs occurring with fever suggest acute rheumatic fever and subacute bacterial endocarditis.
- Is there dyspnea? Dyspnea associated with a cardiac murmur suggests congestive heart failure.
- Is there chest pain? If there is chest pain associated with a cardiac murmur, one must consider pericarditis and myocardial infarction.
- Is there an enlarged thyroid or intention tremor? These findings suggest hyperthyroidism.
- Is there cyanosis or clubbing? These findings suggest congenital heart disease.
DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
If the murmur is believed to be organic, the most cost-effective approach would be to consult a cardiologist at the outset. If the astute clinician wishes to pursue the diagnostic workup on his own, it is suggested that a CBC, sedimentation rate, chemistry panel, VDRL test, and thyroid profile should be done for the initial blood work. In addition, a chest x-ray including obliques, congestive heart failure, phonocardiograms, and EKG should be performed. These findings may provide a diagnosis. If there is fever, a streptozyme test, antistreptolysin-O (ASO) titer, and serial blood culture should be performed. If congestive heart failure is suspected, venous pressure and circulation time should be determined. Pulmonary function studies are also helpful. Echocardiography will be extremely helpful in diagnosing the various forms of valvular disease and will also help in identifying a pericardial effusion, congestive heart failure, or the various cardiomyopathies. Cardiac catheterization and angiography and angiocardiography will identify the various congenital heart lesions and valvular disease. These studies, however, are most important when surgery is being considered.
Book Source Details
- Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
- Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
- Year of Publication: 2003
- Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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