Murmur

This condition is treated in the Cardiology clinic.

Emergency Referral Criteria

Criteria for Emergency include: 

• New murmur with any of the following concerning features:
  • haemodynamic instability 
  • persistent or progressive shortness of breath with marked limitation of physical activity or worse
  • chest pain 
  • syncope/pre-syncope/dizziness 
  • neurological deficit indicative of TIA/stroke 
  • abnormal ECG (e.g. LV hypertrophy, AF, LBBB, RBBB) 
  • fever or constitutional symptoms suggestive of infection (eg endocarditis, acute rheumatic fever)
  • signs of heart failure 

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Statewide Referral Criteria (SRC)

Criteria for referral to public hospital specialist clinic services

? Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Urgent (Category 1)

• Murmur with heart failure symptoms without Emergency Referral Criteria concerning features
• Severe valve stenosis or regurgitation as described on echo report without Emergency Referral Criteria concerning features
• Stenosis or regurgitation with left ventricular dysfunction and/or pulmonary hypertension without Emergency Referral Criteria concerning features
• Previous valve surgery with new heart failure symptoms without Emergency Referral Criteria concerning features
• New or worsening heart failure symptoms in patient with a history of rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease without Emergency Referral Criteria concerning features

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

• Moderate valve stenosis or regurgitation as described on echo report with normal ventricular function, and no pulmonary hypertension

Routine (Category 3)

• Nil category 3 criteria

Information to be included in the referral

(Referral may be returned without this)

Essential supporting information

Pathology

• FBC
• UEC
• TFT

Imaging

• Nil essential

Investigations/other

• Any relevant e.g. echocardiogram report

Additional information

Desirable information - will assist at consultation

• Other past medical history
• Medication history.
• Any relevant laboratory results or medical imaging reports, urinalysis result.

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Cardiology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Interim management advice for Heart Murmurs in Adults can be found at HealthPathways Tasmania.

For more information please see HealthPathways Tasmania

Additional resources

View all clinic availability