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Importance of Aortic Dilatation in the Genesis of the Innocent Systolic Ejection Murmur of the Aged
Author(s) -
VITTAL S. BAI,
LUISADA A. A.,
RAO D. B.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1976.tb03314.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , heart murmur , aorta , ascending aorta , aortic arch
Aortic systolic murmurs and aortic dilatation were studied in a randomized sample of 100 hospital patients over the age of 60. Clinical, phonocardiography, 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.