Pan-Systolic Murmur

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

A pan-systolic murmur, also known as a holosystolic murmur, is an abnormal heart sound heard throughout the entire systolic phase of the cardiac cycle, from the first heart sound (S1) to the second heart sound (S2).

This type of murmur indicates significant regurgitation through a heart valve or a structural defect in the heart. Identifying and evaluating pan-systolic murmurs is essential for diagnosing various cardiac pathologies that may require medical or surgical intervention.

Pathology	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Mitral regurgitation	Dyspnoea, fatigue, peripheral oedema, pan-systolic murmur at the mitral area.	Echocardiogram, ECG, chest X-ray.
Tricuspid regurgitation	Dyspnoea, peripheral oedema, hepatomegaly, pan-systolic murmur at the tricuspid area.	Echocardiogram, ECG, chest X-ray.
Ventricular septal defect	Dyspnoea, fatigue, cyanosis, pan-systolic murmur at the left sternal border.	Echocardiogram, ECG, cardiac catheterisation.