The Cause and Clinical Significance of Diastolic Heart Sounds

Abstract

Auscultation becomes more meaningful when the forces that cause the cardiac sounds are understood. We review the mechanisms responsible for the diastolic heart sounds and correlate them with various clinical conditions that affect their timing, loudness, and pitch. A careful search for these soft and illusive sounds should be included as part of every cardiac examination since their proper identification can supply important diagnostic and prognostic information.