Cruveilhier-Baumgarten syndrome: liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension is the cause of the distension of the paraumbilical veins (i.e. an acquired condition in which the veins reopen due to high portal pressure). Learn to identify abdominal bruit sounds, their causes, and significance. Understand what to listen for and why these sounds matter in diagnosis. Cruveilhier–Baumgarten syndrome: liver cirrhosis or portal hypertension is the cause of the distension of the paraumbilical veins (i.e. an acquired condition in which the veins reopen due to high portal pressure). By listening with a stethoscope, doctors can identify a “bruit,” a sound caused by turbulent blood flow, which may indicate underlying vascular conditions. This guide dives deep into what abdominal bruits are, why they occur, and their significance in diagnosing health issues. What are the causes and significance of an abdominal bruit? • Normal: Approximately 5%–25% of normal individuals may have a midsystolic bruit audible, with the prevalence being higher in younger individuals. In this condition there are prominent umbilical and paraumbilical veins; auscultation over these vessels may reveal a humming sound (i.e. a bruit). The sign was named after Jean Cruveilhier and Paul Clemens von Baumgarten. An abdominal bruit is a swishing, or washing machine like sound heard when the diaphragm of stethoscope is placed over the spleen, renal arteries, or abdominal aorta. Aortic bruits - over upper abdomen in the midline. Renal bruits - over the upper abdomen, approximately 2cm superior and lateral to the umbilicus on either side. This case report highlights the importance of a complete abdominal examination in patients presenting with abdominal pain, and helps clinicians develop a differential diagnosis and framework for approaching abdominal bruits discovered in the outpatient setting. The finding of an abdominal bruit is nonspecific, and further testing is necessary to elucidate the cause. The most common cause, especially in patients with diabetes, is atherosclerotic narrowing that involves the renal, iliac, or mesenteric arteries.