Auscultation and Atherosclerosis

Rolling ball sifting algorithm for the augmented visual inspection of carotid bruit auscultation

“…Therefore, carotid auscultation was once considered a cost-effective and noninvasive diagnostic tool for the detection of carotid artery stenosis and the estimation of stroke risk for asymptomatic patients 3 4 . However, the effectiveness of carotid bruit auscultation has been deemed uncertain because not every symptomatic carotid artery produces bruits 5 6 and most carotid bruits found in younger or asymptomatic patients are not related to any disease 1 7 8 . Finding a bruit in an asymptomatic patient can cause a lot of anxiety that outweighs the potential benefits 2 .…”

“…Nevertheless, in two recent meta-analyses, the presence of a carotid bruit significantly increased the risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death 11 , and may increase the risk of cerebrovascular diseases 12 . In short, auscultation of the neck for carotid bruits remains a useful part in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected transient ischaemic attack, stroke, or cardiovascular diseases 2 8 .…”

“…Typically carotid bruits are best heard using the bell of the stethoscope where the skin acts as a diaphragm with the patients holding their breath 8 . The bruits recorded by an electronic/digital stethoscope in the neck are audible intermittent high-frequency (above 200 Hz) 13 sounds mixed with background noise and transmitted low-frequency heart sounds 3 that wax and wane periodically.…”

“…The bruits recorded by an electronic/digital stethoscope in the neck are audible intermittent high-frequency (above 200 Hz) 13 sounds mixed with background noise and transmitted low-frequency heart sounds 3 that wax and wane periodically. Fourier-based sound spectra analysis such as carotid phonoangiography 14 , quantitative spectral phonoangiography 15 , and more advanced color-shaded spectrograph 13 have achieved different levels of success 8 . In a clinical setting, for patients with suspected stroke or cardiovascular diseases, breathing quietly may be a better alternative if holding breath is impossible or painful.…”