Importance of aortic dilatation in the genesis of the innocent systolic ejection murmur of the aged.
Aortic systolic murmurs and aortic dilatation were studied in a randomized sample of 100 hospital patients over the age of 60. Clinical, phonocardiographic, radiologic and carotid-pulse data provided the basis for graphic characterization of the murmurs. Senile aortic dilatation was common (66 patients). In a high percentage (39 patients), dilatation of the ascending aorta (and sometimes of the arch) was associated with an aortic systolic murmur. The "innocent" type was always associated with aortic dilatation. This "innocent murmur of the aged", even though caused by structural alterations, should be considered in the same light as the "innocent murmur of children", as it is not associated with dynamic embarrassment of the circulation.
D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006326:Heart Auscultation; D006337:Heart Murmurs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged