Sign in, or Join our Auscultation-Essentials plan. Join

First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click

A single first heart sound (S1) followed by an aortic ejection click (AEC) can also mimic a split first heart sound. An AEC follows S1 by 50 milliseconds. An aortic ejection click is caused by thickened aortic valve leaflets. This is commonly seen in a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital abnormality where someone is born with two aortic valve leaflets instead of the normal three. Listen carefully to the second sound of the pair. If it is an AEC it will have a shorter duration and a higher pitch than the first sound of the pair (S1). The AEC is best heard at the Aortic valve area where splitting of S1 is not heard.

Auscultation Sounds

auscultation sound from lesson
waveform

Patient Recording of First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click

patient heart or lung sound
First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click

Patient Recording - Half Speed

patient auscultation point for First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click
First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click

Position

Patient position for auscultation
The patient's position should be sitting.

Listening Tips for First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click

Systole:high-pitched sound, early in systole, short duration

Waveform (Phonocardiogram)



Observe Cardiac Animation for First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click

An aortic ejection click is caused by thickened aortic valve leaflets. This is commonly seen in a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital abnormality where someone is born with two aortic valve leaflets instead of the normal three.
Authors and Sources

Authors and Reviewers


Sources

Return to Reference Guide Index Page
First Heart Sound plus Aortic Ejection Click | #43




An error has occurred. Please reload the page or visit our other website, Practical Clinical Skills. Reload 🗙