Septal bounce

Septal bounce


Mitral stenosis Septal bounce seen in


[A] Mostly in Systole
[B] Early diastole
[C] Only systole
[D] Both systole and diastole



What are the causes of septal bounce?

  1. Left bundle branch block
  2. ‘Open’ cardiac surgery
  3. Septal ischaemia
  4. Mitral stenosis
  5. Constrictive pericarditis
  6. Tamponade
  7. Congenital absence of pericardium

What is Septal bounce?


Septal bounce – Interventricular septum has a characteristic pattern of motion throughout the cardiac cycle


  1. Posterior movement or towards the left ventricle – Thickening and motion away from the transducer (posterior movement or towards the left ventricle) after the onset of electrical depolarisation (QRS complex)
  2. Followed by a brief ‘shudder’ at end systole or early diastole coinciding with the end of ventricular repolarization (T wave) and earlier opening of the tricuspid valve and right ventricle filling compared to the left.
  3. Anterior movement or towards the right ventricle – Finally, the septum returns to its original thickness and position moving back towards the transducer (anterior movement or towards the right ventricle) during diastole.

Pulmonary conditions


  1. Pulmonary‐related conditions
  2. Increase right ventricle afterload
  3. Pulmonary embolism
  4. Increased intrathoracic pressure
  5. Increase RV afterload and preload


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