From the Guidelines
The best location to auscultate for aortic regurgitation is at the left sternal border [@\1@, @\2@, @\3@].
Key Points
- A diastolic regurgitant murmur is not always audible in patients with mild or moderate AR, and auscultation has low sensitivity (21%) for detecting AR [@\1@].
- The left sternal border is the most common location to hear the murmur of aortic regurgitation, as the regurgitant jet is directed toward this area [@\2@, @\3@].
- TTE is more sensitive than auscultation in detecting AR in patients at risk for development of AR, and should be used to confirm the presence, severity, and etiology of AR [@\1@, @\3@].
- A meticulous, comprehensive cardiovascular examination is essential, and training programs should re-emphasize the importance of this aspect of cardiovascular medicine [@\2@].
- The American College of Cardiology’s Heart Songs can significantly improve the accuracy of auscultation [@\2@].
From the Research
Location for Auscultation of Aortic Regurgitation
The best location to auscultate for aortic regurgitation is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the studies provide information on the diagnosis and detection of aortic regurgitation using various methods, including auscultation and echocardiography.
Diagnosis of Aortic Regurgitation
- Auscultation is a common method used to diagnose aortic regurgitation, but its sensitivity and specificity vary depending on the study 1, 2, 3.
- Pulsed Doppler echocardiography is considered a more sensitive and specific method for detecting aortic regurgitation compared to auscultation 1, 4.
- The use of handheld echocardiography, also known as insonation, is being proposed as a superior method to auscultation for diagnosing valvular disorders, including aortic regurgitation 5.
Factors Affecting Auscultation
- The accuracy of auscultation can be affected by various factors, including the experience of the examiner, the presence of cardiomegaly, and the quality of the echocardiogram 3.
- The presence of other conditions, such as coronary artery disease, obesity, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can also affect the accuracy of auscultation 3.