Learning Cardiac Auscultation ― From Essentials to Expert Clinical Interpretation

The book contains a series of core auscultation “lessons”. All are case based and describe auscultation as it relates to a patient and in terms of the gold standard for interpretation of heart sounds. Auscultation is the term for listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually using a stethoscope. It is performed for the purposes of examining the circulatory system and respiratory system (heart sounds and breath sounds). As a topic it is one of the oldest in cardiology but its utility should never be underestimated. In this era of hugely expensive imaging tests, auscultation is a cornerstone of efficient diagnosis and therefore needs a fresh look. The core content of this book describes the search for diagnostic clues within patients’ heart sounds and as such this book provides superb practical advice in the form of a series of clinical pearls reflecting what accurate diagnosis with auscultation can mean to patient prognosis and outcome. This often subtle but ultimately simple subject often produces complex results and these must be considered in light of modern next-level diagnostic methods and patient management.

Allen J. Taylor, MD, FACC, FAHA, is chief of cardiology at MedStar Heart Institute, including MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. In his 20-year United States Army career at Walter Reed, Dr. Taylor served as director of cardiovascular research, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Training Program and chief of the cardiology service.