Cardiac auscultation is a clinical skill used to assess heart function and detect abnormalities. It involves listening to heart sounds at specific anatomical locations through a stethoscope.
Normal Heart Sounds
S1 (First Heart Sound)-
S1 is made by the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves (atrioventricular valves), marking the beginning of systole.
S2 (Second Heart Sound)-
S2 is made by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves (semilunar valves), marking the end of the systole.
Abnormal Heart Sounds
S3 (Third Heart Sound)-
S3 occurs early in diastole during rapid ventricular filling. It is normal in children and athletes; however, it indicates heart failure in older adults.
S4 (Fourth Heart Sound)-
S4 occurs late in diastole during atrial contraction. It often suggests conditions like left ventricular hypertrophy, aortic stenosis, ischemic heart disease, or hypertensive heart disease.
Steps of the Procedure
Position the Patient-
Place the patient comfortably in a position such as supine or left lateral decubitus.
Using the Stethoscope-
Auscultation
S1 Sound Assessment-
S2 Sound Assessment-
S1 and S2 Sound Assessment-
Additional Heart Sounds Assessment-
From Chapter 13:
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