Bruit Definition
Bruit is a murmur or unusual blowing sound heard while auscultating a carotid artery or the aorta. Less commonly, it can be auscultated
over the liver or thyroid. The bruit sound is produced by blood turbulence in a narrow or partially occluded artery.
The specific character of the bruit, its location, and its timing are all of diagnostic importance.
Bruits are usually low frequency sounds which are heard best with the bell of a stethoscope.
Carotid Artery Bruit
Carotid stenosis, sometimes called carotid artery disease, is a narrowing of the inner wall of the carotid artery. The narrowing is usually caused by deposits of cholesterol and fatty substances.
The sound is auscultated with a stethoscope.
The carotid artery is the large artery on both sides of the neck.
The internal carotid artery supplies the brain and the external carotid artery supplies the face. The fork of the internal and external artery is a common site for atherosclerosis.
Clinically, risk of stroke from carotid stenosis is evaluated by the presence or absence of symptoms and the degree of stenosis on imaging. Auscultation can also be used for preliminary evaluation of carotid artery disease, to be followed by ultrasound imaging.