title: Initial clinical evaluation of cardiac systolic murmurs in the ED by noncardiologists.
abstract: It is not exactly known how ED physicians perform in evaluating cardiac systolic murmurs. In 203 consecutive medical ED patients with systolic murmur, we compared the initial clinical evaluation, including auscultation, with transthoracic echocardiography. Of the 203 patients, 132 (65%) had innocent murmurs and 71 patients (35%) had valvular heart disease. Sensitivity and specificity of the initial clinical routine evaluation in diagnosing echocardiographic valvular heart disease were 82% (70%-86%) and 69% (60%-76%), respectively. Independent significant positive predictors of valvular heart disease were grade >2/6 systolic murmur (odds ratio [OR], 8.3; confidence interval [CI], 3.5-19.7, P<.001) and pathologic electrocardiogram (ECG) (OR, 8.4; CI, 3.2-22, P<.001. Patients younger than 50 years with a systolic murmur graded < or =2/6 had innocent murmurs in 98%. The initial clinical evaluation, including auscultation, by experienced ED physicians in internal medicine distinguishes well between innocent murmurs and valvular heart disease in medical patients with cardiac systolic murmurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reichlin
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dieterle
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camli
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leimenstoll
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schoenenberger
authors.forename: Benedict
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006326:Heart Auscultation; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography