Physical signs in differential diagnosis of left ventricular obstructive cardiomyopathy.

The diagnosis of left ventricular obstructive cardiomyopathy can be made in most instances by simple clinical examination, as practised by Paul Wood as early as 1960 (personal communication). Occasionally, there is difficulty in differentiating other causes of a systolic murmur associated with left ventricular disease. We have, therefore, assessed the diagnostic value of palpation of the carotid pulse and indirect carotid pulse recording, palpation of the praecordium and displacement recording, and auscultation and phonocardiography, in left ventricular obstructive cardiomyopathy with and without additional mitral regurgitation, in aortic valve and fixed subvalve stenosis, and in pure mitral regurgitation.