What are the characteristics of the murmur of ventricular septal defect?
The murmur of a ventricular septal defect is usually a loud (grade 4 or 5), pansystolic, high-pitched murmur loudest over the third, fourth and fifth interspaces just to the left of the sternal border. It is best heard with the diaphragm. It may radiate over the precordium, but not into the left axilla. What are the associated findings in ventricular septal defect? • Presence of a thrill over the lower left sternal border in many cases; and • a bounding pulse (if there is a large left to right shunt). References 1. Nishimura RA, McGoon MD. Perspectives on mitral valve prolapse (editorial). N Engl J Med 1999;341:48-50. The late Dr. Kenneth Marshall was a former professor of family medicine at University of Western Ontario medical school.
