Opening snap is a classic auscultatory finding in which condition?

Opening snap is a classic auscultatory finding in which condition?

• A. Aortic stenosis
• B. Tricuspid regurgitation
• C. Mitral stenosis
• D. Pulmonary hypertension

Answer: (C)

Opening snap reflects abrupt opening of a stiff mitral valve early in diastole, seen in mitral stenosis. In this condition the leaflets are thickened and tethered, so they resist opening until left atrial pressure pushes them apart; when they finally yield, the sudden tensing of the valve apparatus produces a brief, high-frequency sound just after the second heart sound. This is best heard at the apex with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, early in diastole, before the diastolic rumble of mitral stenosis. The finding points to mitral stenosis and is not typically produced by aortic stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, or isolated pulmonary hypertension, which have different auscultatory patterns.

Opening snap reflects abrupt opening of a stiff mitral valve early in diastole, seen in mitral stenosis. In this condition the leaflets are thickened and tethered, so they resist opening until left atrial pressure pushes them apart; when they finally yield, the sudden tensing of the valve apparatus produces a brief, high-frequency sound just after the second heart sound. This is best heard at the apex with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position, early in diastole, before the diastolic rumble of mitral stenosis. The finding points to mitral stenosis and is not typically produced by aortic stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, or isolated pulmonary hypertension, which have different auscultatory patterns.