What could be the cause of bruits?

Question

My husband just saw the Dr. and he said he heard a swooshing sound with his stethascope...in my husbands lower left abdoman. He didn't think it was heart related cause it IS so low. He called it bruits and ordered him to have an ultrasound done. What could it be they are looking for? I am worried as he is also. Can someone please tell us something it might be that may be minor. Or is this very serious? Dr. checked him before and he never heard this. What could it be? And what will they have to do? What can an ultrasound show in this case? Thank you for any information you may have. He has nothing to indicate any problem. It was a routine check up.....He had not been sick or anything. Wouldn't there be signs of a problem if there were one?

Answer 1

According to the Online Medical Dictionary (OMD), a bruit is defined as:

" An unexpected audible swishing sound or murmur heard over an artery or vascular channel. Indicates increased turbulence often caused by a partial obstruction."

Online Medical Dictionary - Bruit
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?query=bruit&action=Search+OMD

I searched MedlinePlus and found this statement:

"Early atherosclerosis can create a whooshing or blowing sound ("bruit") over an artery."

Read the article at this link:

MedlinePlus - Atherosclerosis
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000171.htm

Your doctor is being safe. While he dosen't think it's the heart, he want's to be sure by having it evaluated further. It may be nothing to worry about at all. I suspect that plaque build-up is not the only cause of bruit.

Terry

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What could be the cause of bruits?
My husband just saw the Dr. and he said he heard a swooshing sound with his stethascope...in my husbands lower left abdoman. He didn't think it was heart related cause it IS so low. He called it bruits and ordered him to have an ultrasound done. What could it be they are looking for? I am...

Answer 3

Bruits generally mean that there is an obstruction present in the artery which makes a noise as blood moves through. Generally, if any bruit are heard, it is in the carotid arteries (in your neck) which can indicate a greater risk of stroke.

The greatest risk associated with an abdominal bruit is that it may indicate the presence of an abdominal aneurysm - which is extremely serious. Although, more often than not it is completely benign. I often hear bruit in the abdomen of very healthy patients. I hope that your husband is one of those!

Answer 4

Abdominal bruits usually indicate a narrowing in an artery in the abdomen/pelvis. It could be in one of the mesenteric vessels (feeding the stomach or intestines) or the aorta/iliac arteries.

The presence of a bruit doesn't always mean a significant narrowing. In other words, it may (hopefully) turn out that nothing need be done except observation.

Best of luck.

Answer 5

Drugs even cause bruit. There are more than 70 causes of bruit; sending you a link, this will help you out OK:

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/additional_heart_sounds.htm

Answer 6

maybe he has a heart mumble.