Holosystolic Murmurs

Holosystolic Murmur Introduction.

A holosystolic murmur, also called a pansystolic murmur, begins immediately after the first heart sound (S1) and continues to the second heart sound (S2), as illustrated in the phonocardiogram. Typically high-pitched, these murmurs are usually caused by ventricular septal defect, mitral regurgitation or tricuspid regurgitation, as discussed below.
holosystolic murmur


Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a congenital condition associated with abnormal blood flow between the left ventricle and the right ventricle due to a shunt (hole) in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles. Holosystolic murmurs can be auscultated over the left 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces and along the sternal border.

Our reference guide for a holosystolic murmur caused by ventricular septal defect: Ventricular Septal Defect Lesson


Listen

Audio Playback

patient thorax when auscultating by stethoscope

patient position during auscultation
The patient was supine during auscultation.

Waveform

Lung Sounds Reference Guide

Our auscultation reference guide provides quick access to holosystolic (pansystolic) sounds as well as many other adventitious sounds. Each sound is described also with an audio recording and waveform.



Related Lessons


Authors and Sources

Authors and Reviewers


Sources

  • Electrocardiography for Healthcare Professionals, 6th Edition Kathryn Booth and Thomas O'Brien
    ISBN10: 1265013470, ISBN13: 9781265013479
    McGraw Hill, 2023
  • Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition
    Dale Dublin
    Cover Publishing Company
  • EKG Reference Guide
    EKG.Academy
  • 12 Lead EKG for Nurses: Simple Steps to Interpret Rhythms, Arrhythmias, Blocks, Hypertrophy, Infarcts, & Cardiac Drugs
    Aaron Reed
    Create Space Independent Publishing
  • Heart Sounds and Murmurs: A Practical Guide with Audio CD-ROM 3rd Edition
    Elsevier-Health Sciences Division
    Barbara A. Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN
  • The Virtual Cardiac Patient: A Multimedia Guide to Heart Sounds, Murmurs, EKG Jonathan Keroes, David Lieberman
    Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin)
    ISBN-10: 0781784425; ISBN-13: 978-0781784429
  • Project Semilla, UCLA Emergency Medicine, EKG Training Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
  • ECG Reference Guide
    PracticalClinicalSkills.com




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