Heart sounds are altered by open cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Patients have reported that they perceive their own heart sounds differently after open cardiac surgery than before the surgery. The present study was designed to investigate whether changes in heart sounds can be quantitatively measured.


METHODS
Heart sounds were recorded from 57 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and from a control group of 10 subjects. The so-called Hjorth descriptors and the main frequency peak were compared before and after surgery to determine whether the characteristics of the heart sounds had changed.


RESULTS
At a group level, the first heart sound was found to be significantly different after CABG surgery. Generally, the heart sounds shifted toward a lower frequency after surgery in the CABG group. No significant changes were found in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Heart sounds are altered after CABG surgery. The changes are objectively quantifiable and may also be subjectively perceived by the patients.
Hurtig-Wennlöf
Anita
A
School of Health and Medical Sciences/Clinical Medicine, Orebro University, Orebro;
Ahlstrom
Christer
C
Egerlid
Rigmor
R
Resare
Marie
M
Ask
Per
P
Rask
Peter
P
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