[The clinical examination in cardiology]

The main manifestations of cardiac diseases are dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations, giddiness and syncope. A careful evaluation of subjective symptoms during history taking allows a rapid identification of an ischaemic heart disease, heart failure or cardiac arrhythmias. The additional clinical findings during bedside examination by inspection of the jugular veins, palpation of cardiac impulses and auscultation of heart sounds and murmurs are often sufficient to diagnose most of the frequent underlying disorders, such as valvular diseases, heart failure or pulmonary hypertension. The clinical assessment remains essential to select the most appropriate additional tests, such as echocardiography, scintigraphy, computer tomography or coronarography. Systematic teaching of the clinical skills should remain a central element in the formation of medical students and clinical fellows.