Second Heart Sound

Abstract

The auscultation of second heart sound reveals presence of the disease and its pathophysiology, conduction defects, ventricular function, and hemodynamics around the aortic and pulmonary valves. To understand the splitting of the second heart sound, it is useful to understand the concepts of hangout interval and ejection time. Differential diagnosis of S2 split include opening snap, third heart sound, and pericardial knock. Variations of second heart sound may involve intensity or variations of split. Variations of split can be single heart sound, wide split, wide fixed split, or paradoxical splitting.Interpretation of second heart sound in congenital heart disease provides information about the presence and position of semilunar valves.