The Phonocardiographic Picture of Aortic Insufficiency

Abstract

In the past, evidence of aortic incompetence was poorly documented by phonocardiography because the older instruments were unable to reproduce well high frequency murmurs. However, newer and more sophisticated instrumentation allows us to document these murmurs graphically and evaluate some of their characteristics that escape auscultation. Graphic tracings allow for a better evaluation of the second heart sound and may give some indication of the severity of the insufficiency through the amplitude, duration, and pattern of the murmur. Both systolic and diastolic murmurs are discussed and several types of the latter are described. The characteristics of the Austin Flint murmur are also discussed. In the past, evidence of aortic incompetence was poorly documented by phonocardiography because the older instruments were unable to reproduce well high frequency murmurs. However, newer and more sophisticated instrumentation allows us to document these murmurs graphically and evaluate some of their characteristics that escape auscultation. Graphic tracings allow for a better evaluation of the second heart sound and may give some indication of the severity of the insufficiency through the amplitude, duration, and pattern of the murmur. Both systolic and diastolic murmurs are discussed and several types of the latter are described. The characteristics of the Austin Flint murmur are also discussed.