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Multiple Choice
A doctor puts his stethoscope on a patient's chest over the location of the heart and hears an abnormal swishing sound. Which of the following conditions is the best diagnosis for the patient's condition?
A
angina pectoris
B
incompetent cardiac valve
C
cardiac tamponade
D
myocardial infarction
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: The doctor hears an abnormal swishing sound when listening to the heart. This sound is typically associated with turbulent blood flow, which can occur when a heart valve does not close properly.
Identify the possible conditions: The options given are angina pectoris, incompetent cardiac valve, cardiac tamponade, and myocardial infarction.
Analyze each condition: Angina pectoris is chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart, not typically associated with a swishing sound. Cardiac tamponade involves fluid accumulation around the heart, leading to muffled heart sounds, not swishing. Myocardial infarction, or heart attack, involves heart muscle damage, often with different symptoms.
Focus on the swishing sound: An incompetent cardiac valve, also known as valvular insufficiency or regurgitation, occurs when a valve does not close properly, allowing blood to flow backward, creating a swishing sound.
Conclude the diagnosis: Based on the presence of the swishing sound, the most likely diagnosis is an incompetent cardiac valve, as it directly correlates with the symptom described.