Abdominal and Lumbar Murmur

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

An abdominal and lumbar murmur is a clinical finding characterised by the presence of an abnormal sound, audible during auscultation, indicating turbulence in blood flow.

This phenomenon is often associated with significant vascular diseases such as abdominal aortic aneurysm, renal artery stenosis, and aortic dissection.

The detection of these murmurs requires a thorough clinical evaluation and specific complementary tests to identify the underlying cause. Early identification and appropriate management are crucial to preventing serious and potentially life-threatening complications.

Pathology	Symptoms and Clinical Signs	Suspicion Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm	Abdominal or lumbar pain, abdominal pulsation, abdominal murmur	Clinical history, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound	Abdominal CT scan, MRA, Doppler ultrasound
Renal Artery Stenosis	Severe hypertension, abdominal murmur, signs of renal insufficiency	Clinical history, physical examination, renal Doppler ultrasound	MR angiography, conventional angiography, abdominal CT scan
Aortic Dissection	Sudden and severe abdominal or back pain, hypertension, signs of shock, abdominal murmur	Clinical history, physical examination, transesophageal echocardiography	Abdominal CT scan, MRA, transesophageal echocardiography, conventional angiography