Electronic or acoustic stet?

[ericdamiansean]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys, I know this probably has been posted in other forums, but as residents, which type of stethoscope would you prefer, given that money isn't a problem. An acoustic cardio stethoscope or a decked out electronic, for example Littman's 3000?

 

[Ottlite]

I haven't had too much experience with the electronic stethoscopes, but from what I've heard, they're not all that great. Some of them give you a lot of background noise so really I found that older attendings (probably with prebycussis) tend to like them.

I personally prefer the littmann cardiology master series, but the cardiology III scopes are good too. My friend really likes the Welch Allen triple head scope. I find it a bit cumbersome to roll up into your pocket.

But that being said, as a resident I don't think you need a really fancy stethoscope until you're sure you're going into a field that's going to be needing it. My friend bought a Littmann master cardiology and ended up going into radiology... it's probably collecting dust now.😉

 

[ericdamiansean]

I haven't had too much experience with the electronic stethoscopes, but from what I've heard, they're not all that great. Some of them give you a lot of background noise so really I found that older attendings (probably with prebycussis) tend to like them.

I personally prefer the littmann cardiology master series, but the cardiology III scopes are good too. My friend really likes the Welch Allen triple head scope. I find it a bit cumbersome to roll up into your pocket.

But that being said, as a resident I don't think you need a really fancy stethoscope until you're sure you're going into a field that's going to be needing it. My friend bought a Littmann master cardiology and ended up going into radiology... it's probably collecting dust now.😉

I found out that you can actually give the Littmann's electronic a trial of a month and if you don't like it, you can return it (with delivery charges of course). I think I'll probably try that out, and if it doesn't work for me, then it's the cardio. I'm pretty sure I'm going into IM though

 

[viostorm]

I found out that you can actually give the Littmann's electronic a trial of a month and if you don't like it, you can return it (with delivery charges of course). I think I'll probably try that out, and if it doesn't work for me, then it's the cardio. I'm pretty sure I'm going into IM though

I have the littman electronic one. I'm a MS3 not a cards fellow.

I can confirm you do get a ton of background noise, but you also hear a lot of what is going on in the patient too. I find I often hear murmurs that others can't, or at least other residents in non-cardiology fields and that is annoying because I write down a murmur and someone comes behind me and says there is none and treat me like I'm an idiot.

The record feature is nice, i began recording when I heard a murmur and then tell the resident "well this is what I heard" and playback (because of the issue above), then they have been like "wow".

I think the best sound is from the Littman Master Cardiology, had one before but it was stolen. When my electronic one breaks i'll probably get the master cardiology.

 

[ericdamiansean]

I have the littman electronic one. I'm a MS3 not a cards fellow.

I can confirm you do get a ton of background noise, but you also hear a lot of what is going on in the patient too.

Isn't it supposed to decrease the amount of background noise?

 

[DJ LACTULOSE]

is it frowned upon to have an electronic steth on the wards if you're not an attending?