The book contains a series of core auscultation lessons. All are case based and describe
auscultation as it relates to a patient and in terms of the gold standard for interpretation of
heart sounds. Auscultation is the term for listening to the internal sounds of the body
usually using a stethoscope. It is performed for the purposes of examining the circulatory
system and respiratory system (heart sounds and breath sounds). As a topic it is one of the
oldest in cardiology but its utility should never be underestimated. In this era of hugely
expensive imaging tests auscultation is a cornerstone of efficient diagnosis and therefore
needs a fresh look. The core content of this book describes the search for diagnostic clues
within patients' heart sounds and as such this book provides superb practical advice in the
form of a series of clinical pearls reflecting what accurate diagnosis with auscultation can
mean to patient prognosis and outcome. This often subtle but ultimately simple subject often
produces complex results and these must be considered in light of modern next-level diagnostic
methods and patient management.
