Evaluation of heart sounds and murmurs in children

Postgrad Med. 1982 Jul;72(1):151-3, 156-60. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1982.11716128.

Abstract

Auscultation is the core of pediatric cardiovascular evaluation and should be performed according to a routine. The four heart sounds should be sought in order at their usual locations, with particular attention to the second sound because of its important diagnostic role in congenital cyanotic heart disease. The next sounds to listen for are clicks, which can be systolic, pulmonary, aortic, or midsystolic. Finally, murmurs should be sought in systole and then diastole. Besides being identified as systolic, diastolic, or continuous, murmurs should be characterized according to their relationship with the first and second heart sounds, intensity, frequency, and maximum location and radiation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Diastole
  • Heart Auscultation / methods*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnosis
  • Heart Murmurs
  • Heart Sounds
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Systole