What is true regarding bruits?

Bruits are abnormal sounds that can be heard when blood flows over irregularities in a blood vessel, often due to turbulence caused by conditions such as stenosis or plaque build-up. When there is a change from laminar flow to turbulent flow, it typically results in the creation of sound waves that can be detected with a stethoscope. Therefore, the presence of a bruit indeed indicates turbulent flow patterns, suggesting that there may be an underlying vascular issue that needs further assessment.

In contrast, bruits are not solely caused by stenosis, as they can occur due to other conditions, such as arteriovenous fistulas or increased flow in healthy vessels, which means they are not exclusively indicative of stenosis. They also can be present in individuals without hypertension, as the development of bruits can happen due to a variety of vascular anomalies or physiological variations. Lastly, a bruit does not signify normal healthy blood flow; rather, it is always a sign that there is some form of turbulence occurring within the vasculature that warrants further investigation.