The most common types of acquired adult valvular heart disease and associated murmurs

Extract

• Heart murmurs are usually generated by a turbulent and increased flow of blood.
• The majority of soft systolic murmurs are innocent (benign).
• The intensity (loudness) of a murmur does not always correlate with the severity of the valvular disease.
• The intensity of a murmur induced by significant valvular disease usually decreases in severe heart failure, or the murmur may even disappear altogether.
• A new murmur suggestive of valvular regurgitation in a febrile patient should always arouse the suspicion of endocarditis.
• If the condition of a patient with an artificial heart valve suddenly deteriorates, complications relating to the valve prosthesis should always be borne in mind.
• Endocarditis prophylaxis is no longer considered necessary in patients with acquired valvular disease.
• This article does not address causes of murmurs that are rare in adults, including pulmonary valve stenosis, mitral valve stenosis, congenital heart diseases, ventricular septal rupture and pericardial rub.

Read full article of The most common types of acquired adult valvular heart disease and associated murmurs

Search terms

Aged, Aortic Valve, Aortic Valve Insufficiency, Aortic Valve Stenosis, Cardiology, Cardiovascular Abnormalities, Cardiovascular Abnormalities, Heart Auscultation, Heart Diseases, Heart Diseases, Heart Murmurs, Heart Sounds, Heart Valve Diseases, Heart Valve Prosthesis, Heart Valves, I34.0, I34.1, I34.2, I35.0, I35.1, I35.2, I36, I37, Internal medicine, Mitral Valve, Mitral Valve Insufficiency, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Mitral Valve Stenosis, Q23.0, Q23.11, Q23.3, R01, R01.1, Surgery, Thoracic surgery, Tricuspid Valve, Z95.2, calcified aortic valve, combined valcular disease, continuous murmur, diastolic murmur, ejection fraction, endocarditis prophylaxis, heart murmur, systolic, pressure gradient, tricuspid regurgitation, valvular insufficiency, valvular ostium, valvular stenosis