| Gallavardin phenomenon | |
|---|---|
| Differential diagnosis | aortic stenosis |
TheGallavardin phenomenon is aclinical sign found in patients withaortic stenosis. It is described as the dissociation between the noisy and musical components of the systolicmurmur heard in aortic stenosis. The harsh noisy component is best heard at the upper right sternal border radiating to the neck due to the high velocity jet in theascending aorta. The musical high frequency component is best heard at thecardiac apex.[1] The presence of a murmur at the apex can be misinterpreted asmitral regurgitation. However, the apical murmur of the Gallavardin phenomenon does not radiate to the leftaxilla and is accentuated by a slowing of theheart rate (such as a compensatory pause after apremature beat) whereas the mitral regurgitation murmur does not change.[2]
The sign is named afterLouis Gallavardin, having been described by Gallavardin and Ravault in 1925.[3]
