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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Minimally Invasive Model of Aortic Stenosis in Swine
Published on: October 20, 2023
Aortic stenosis - or 'just a murmur'?
Insights
Family physicians can distinguish between ejection and regurgitant systolic murmurs by understanding their distinct characteristics. Familiarity with normal heart sounds aids in identifying abnormal murmurs during family practice examinations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Family Medicine
- Diagnostic Skills
Background:
- Systolic murmurs are frequent findings in primary care settings.
- Accurate differentiation between ejection and regurgitant murmurs is clinically significant.
Purpose of the Study:
- To equip family physicians with the knowledge to differentiate systolic murmurs.
- To provide a guide on the characteristics of ejection and regurgitant murmurs.
Main Methods:
- Review of the acoustic characteristics of systolic murmurs.
- Description of differentiating features between ejection and regurgitant murmurs.
- Emphasis on practicing with normal cardiac auscultation.
Main Results:
- Ejection and regurgitant murmurs possess distinct auscultatory qualities.
- Understanding these qualities allows for accurate classification.
- Familiarity with normal heart sounds is crucial for identifying abnormalities.
Conclusions:
- Family physicians can reliably distinguish between systolic murmur types.
- This diagnostic skill enhances patient care in primary settings.
- Continued practice improves the ability to identify abnormal heart sounds.
Abstract:
Systolic murmurs are commonly encountered in family practice, often necessitating distinction between ejection and regurgitant murmurs. This distinction can be made by the family physician providing he is familiar with the characteristics of both, which are described in this article. Practice on normal hearts will help to distinguish the abnormal.
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