Question

What assessment data would the nurse expect to auscultate in the client diagnosed with mitral valve insufficiency?

a. A loud s1 s2 split, and a mitral valve snap.
b. A holosystolic murmur heard best at the cardiac apex.
c. A midsystolic ejection click or murmur heard at the base.
d. A high-pitched sound heard at the third left intercostal space.

Answer 1

For a client diagnosed with mitral valve insufficiency, a nurse would expect to auscultate a holosystolic murmur at the cardiac apex during the assessment. This murmur occurs due to blood backflow as a result of the mitral valve not closing properly.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of a patient diagnosed with mitral valve insufficiency, a nurse conducting auscultation would expect to hear a holosystolic murmur best heard at the cardiac apex. This type of murmur, also known as a pansystolic murmur, occurs throughout the entirety of systole. It is caused by the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium due to the insufficient closure of the mitral valve. In contrast, a loud S1, S2 split, a mitral valve snap, a midsystolic ejection click, or a high-pitched sound at the third left intercostal space are not typically associated with mitral valve insufficiency. Instead, these sounds may be indicative of other cardiac conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. During auscultation, it's also important to note that additional heart sounds such as S3 or S4 may be found in cases of heart failure or ventricular hypertrophy, respectively, which can also be present in valve diseases.