Still's murmur

Recording of an innocent Still's murmur in a toddler

Still's murmur (also known as vibratory murmur) is a common type of benign or "innocent" functional heart murmur that is not associated with any sort of cardiac disorder or any other medical condition.[1] It can occur at any age although it is most common among children two to seven years of age and it is rare in adulthood.[2]

Still's murmur was initially described by Dr. George Frederic Still, England's first professor of childhood medicine at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. In his pediatric textbook Common Disorders and Diseases of Childhood (published 1909) Dr. Still noted:

“I should like to draw attention to a particular bruit which has somewhat of a musical character, but is neither of sinister omen nor does it indicate endocarditis of any sort. …its characteristic feature is a twangy sound, very like that made by twanging a piece of tense string... Whenever may be its origin, I think it is clearly functional, that is to say, not due to any organic disease of the heart either congenital or acquired.”[3]

  1. ^ Newburger, Jane (2006). Nadas' Pediatric Cardiology 2nd Edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier. p. 358. ISBN 978-1-4160-2390-6.
  2. ^ Frank, Jennifer (2011). "Evaluation and Management of Heart Murmurs in Children" (PDF). American Family Physician. 84 (7): 793–800. PMID 22010618. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. ^ Still, George Frederick (1909). Common Disorders and Diseases of Childhood. London: Hodder and Stoughton. pp. 434–435. ASIN B006PCYAWQ.