Which of the following most likely describes a patient with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse?

Prepare for the Fitzgerald Nurse Practitioner Exam with comprehensive tools. Explore multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Ace your test confidently!

A patient with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse typically exhibits a grade 3/6 late-systolic murmur, often accompanied by chest pain. This murmur is characteristic of mitral valve prolapse due to the displacement of the mitral valve leaflets into the left atrium during systole, which causes a turbulent blood flow that generates the murmur. The late-systolic nature of the murmur aligns with how mitral valve prolapse is usually heard during a cardiac examination, as it occurs due to the gradual development of the valve's dysfunction throughout systole.

In addition to the murmur, patients with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse may experience atypical chest pain, palpitations, or even anxiety, which are part of the syndrome associated with this condition. Recognizing the sound characteristics of the murmur and correlating them with the symptoms helps in identifying this specific condition accurately.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy