Littman stethoscope, is it worth the money?

[Dr. Xavier]

My school recommended we get littmann classic II stethoscopes $60, man are they expensive. I've seen some cheap $15 ones in my school store, they look nicer and have more bells and whistles. What do you guys think? They also told us to get ophth/otto scope Welch/Allen $375, my lord dats alot of money. I've seen cheap plastic ones for like 20 bucks. Dude where can I get some deals on this stuff?

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[ckent]

Buy the cheapest otoscope/ophthalmoscope you can find. Chances are, you will never use it during 3rd/4th year as there is always one available in the office during out-patient work and it's almost never used during in patient. With stethescopes, you get what you pay for. I wouldn't waste my money on the $20 stethescopes, I would actually go straight for the Littman III or master cardiology ($120). You can tell the difference between different quality stethescopes, the cheap ones are virtually useless except for taking blood pressures on thin people.

 

[carrigallen]

Originally posted by Dr. Xavier
They also told us to get ophth/otto scope Welch/Allen $375, my lord dats alot of money. I've seen cheap plastic ones for like 20 bucks. Dude where can I get some deals on this stuff?

IMO, forget buying the oto/optho scope entirely. You will rarely use it, and every office room has a scope in it already....your school must have stock in the otoscope industry to suggest you buy one yourself.

The stethoscope on the other hand, just buy a good one (~$100-150).

 

[BPKurtz]

One thing I will say, I got talked into buying a Littman (Cardiology III I think?) that doubles as an adult and pediatric stethoscope - it has a big diaphragm on one side and a small diaphragm on the other. Technically speaking, this is substandard. You really should have a bell on your stethoscope. I was never on a cardio service so I snuck by, but one day when getting a lecture from a pediatric cardiologist he pointed to the stethoscope around my neck and mocked it as an example of what NOT to do. He definitely had a point. Since I am going into peds I just ended up getting a pediatric stethoscope that had a bell and diaphragm recently.

If I had to go back and do it again I'd just buy one of those Littman stethoscopes for adults that has both a bell and diaphragm. It should get you through all your rotations (including most peds services) and you can always get a peds stethoscope if you want it.

With respect to ophthalmoscopes, most people don't buy them. I will tell you if you are going into peds don't buy one of those fancy pan-optic ones because although you can see more in adults, they really require the patient to comply (look where you tell them to look) and it is somewhat easier to get a quick peek at the retina of a kid who is squirming with a conventional one.

bpkurtz

 

[maya]

I bought a really cheap one and it's useless. Try allheart.com, they have a decent selection and some good deals (and you can get your name on it).

 

[Wednesday]

Originally posted by BPKurtz
One thing I will say, I got talked into buying a Littman (Cardiology III I think?) that doubles as an adult and pediatric stethoscope - it has a big diaphragm on one side and a small diaphragm on the other. Technically speaking, this is substandard. You really should have a bell on your stethoscope. I was never on a cardio service so I snuck by, but one day when getting a lecture from a pediatric cardiologist he pointed to the stethoscope around my neck and mocked it as an example of what NOT to do. He definitely had a point. Since I am going into peds I just ended up getting a pediatric stethoscope that had a bell and diaphragm recently.

If I had to go back and do it again I'd just buy one of those Littman stethoscopes for adults that has both a bell and diaphragm. It should get you through all your rotations (including most peds services) and you can always get a peds stethoscope if you want it.

bpkurtz

I thought that the pediatric side was a bell if you took the diaphragm off.

 

[Kritenoel]

on the litmann cardio III it has the option to be a bell or be used for peds. I've found that it was WELL worth it to get the Cardio III - some people in my class went with the $20 ones and they've had a realllly hard time hearing things - don't skimp on something that you could potentially use for the next 7-8 years!

 

[secretwave101]

Why whine about 60-150 bucks? This is nothing compared to how much we spend on books every year. Med school's expensive - get over it.

I use what most docs on our wards use - Littmann Classic II SE. I'm happy with it. And I can't imagine trying to use something of lesser quality because I still can't hear a dang thing except for an occasional S4 (it's only been 2 weeks, but the going is slow).

 

[Jaded Soul]

Originally posted by BPKurtz
One thing I will say, I got talked into buying a Littman (Cardiology III I think?) that doubles as an adult and pediatric stethoscope - it has a big diaphragm on one side and a small diaphragm on the other. Technically speaking, this is substandard. You really should have a bell on your stethoscope. I was never on a cardio service so I snuck by, but one day when getting a lecture from a pediatric cardiologist he pointed to the stethoscope around my neck and mocked it as an example of what NOT to do. He definitely had a point. Since I am going into peds I just ended up getting a pediatric stethoscope that had a bell and diaphragm recently.

If I had to go back and do it again I'd just buy one of those Littman stethoscopes for adults that has both a bell and diaphragm. It should get you through all your rotations (including most peds services) and you can always get a peds stethoscope if you want it.

Someone never read the instruction book for their Cardio III...

 

[doc05]

Originally posted by carrigallen
IMO, forget buying the oto/optho scope entirely. You will rarely use it, and every office room has a scope in it already....your school must have stock in the otoscope industry to suggest you buy one yourself.

not true. many hospitals don't have the scopes on the walls, except maybe in the ER's and clinics. in the inpatient rooms, you will be out of luck without one. not to mention the fact that you won't learn how to use the scope if you don't own one.

i've never heard of $20 otoscopes; if they do exist then they are pieces of crap. my scope was about $400; remember - these instruments have resale value.

there is no reason to buy a scope as a 1st-year though. you don't really need it until ms3.

 

[gwyn779]

Like several people have already said, you can convert the peds side on a cardiology III to a bell by taking off the diphragm and putting on the nice little rubber bell edge.

And definitely buy a quality stethescope, it makes a difference. Don't worry about the scopes.

 

[BPKurtz]

It seems my Cardio III came missing a piece to make it have a bell. I got it secondhand from a friend and never realized this. I also never got an instruction book.

bpkurtz

 

[Mike59]

Are there any other opinions about the Littmann Classic II? It seems to be widely used, isn't it a good balance of budget/quality for a student?

 

[Scrubbs]

I think buying a stethoscope should be like buying anything else you're going to use/need for a long time (bed/car/tv)... BUY THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD! Don't bother buying something cheap, since you will likely have to buy another one that you can actually hear stuff through.

As for the oto/ophthalmoscope... total waste of money as a med student. If you decide you want to go into ophtho or ENT, you'll buy one then. If not, you don't need to own one. Anytime you need one, it will be available in the hospital/office. Trust me, you have enough things to carry in your pockets as a med student... you won't be carrying your otoscope for that once in a blue time that you need it!

 

[Jaded Soul]

Originally posted by BPKurtz
It seems my Cardio III came missing a piece to make it have a bell. I got it secondhand from a friend and never realized this. I also never got an instruction book.

bpkurtz

Well there you go... You could probably get the parts directly from Littman somehow if you still wanted to convert it.

 

[secretwave101]

I'm pretty sure you can get an instruction manual in PDF on-line. There isn't much to say, really, about how they work.

Just Google for Littmann and you'll get to their website. I think they have PDF's on each of the models.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Buy the best stethoscope you can afford that is comfortable and allows you to hear things properly. While some may advocate learning with one of those cheapy "nurse's" stethoscopes (under the guise that if you can hear with those things you can hear with anything), I say learn with the best.

And for those wards that don't have otoscopes on the walls, they usually will have a rolling one available somewhere on the ward. Don't buy the kit just for this reason unless you are absolutely sure your hospital does not have these available on the inpatient services.

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

At my school we HAD to buy the oto/opthalmascope set. Our physical exam groups did not meet in the clinic, but in study rooms or something like that. And on our test, we had to bring our own equipment. So I bought mine, but am planning on selling it in 3rd or 4th year so a fresh faced 1st year. I'd advise you ask an upperclassman if the tools are necessary and go from there because it may be like my school.

 

[Kaiser_sioze]

I myself have a Littmann cardiology III, took of the pediatric diaphragm and added the o-ring seal to make it a bell. My lab coat was recently stolen out of my car along with my stethoscope and opthalmoscope..... a neighbor subsequently found my coat and sthethoscope but not the opthalmoscope...... anyways, my point was that i was looking into buying a welch allyn harvey because my girlfriend has one.... cost about 130 for students....After using both, i think the welch allyn is far more superior.

 

[rxfudd]

I thought that the Cardio III had a tunable diaphragm (i.e. press lightly for low frequency, press hard for high frequency) so that you didn't have to use a standard bell...

 

[emtji]

hi,

i've used the littman classic II s.e. for a little while, and while it's a respectable stethoscope, if i had to do it all over again, i'd probably get a cardiology one, or at least the master classic (though you might want to get one with two sides).

check out allheart.com if you want a littman.

i also don't think littmans are worth the money you spend on them. consider cardiology scopes from other brands.

also, don't shell out $15 for the cheapo sprague rappaport ones (allheart has them on sale for $9). they good...for you to poop on. 🙂 you can't hear anything with them.

 

[group_theory]

From the Littmann Cardiology III Manual


"Your Littmann Cardiology III Stethoscope is equipped with a patented tunable diaphragm that enables you to listen to both low and high frequency sounds on either chestpiece side.

Should you prefer a traditional bell, a nonchill bell sleeve is included as a spare part.

Low frequencies: To listen to low frequency sounds (traditional bell mode), use very light skin contact.

High frequencies: To listen to higher frequency sounds (traditional diaphragm mode), press firmly on the chestpiece.

To listen to low and high frequency sounds without removing and repositioning the chestpiece, simply alternate between light and firm pressure on the chestpiece."

I was lucky. The Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA) purchased Littmann Cardio 3 for all first year osteopathic students in Pennsylvania. (SHOUT OUT). Thanks guys!!!!!

 

[souljah1]

i think the above post explains everything 🙂

 

[chef]

so it seems like seII is a POS

how about cardio III vs master cardio?? ne1 compare these 2?

 

[pcl]

I just bought a Harvey from Steele's surgical supply that was I think $118 and came with a detachable peds head, and a name tag... vital since my last stethescope mysteriously disappeared on my Surgery rotation... I think it is easier to hear some things with it than the littman classic II I had previously.

Go to the bookstore and try a bunch out, then buy from one of the online stores for a much better price.

🙂
pcl

 

[emtji]

probably the best way of telling the difference between the two scopes:

put the radio and then try to auscultate something.

the extra money goes toward extra thick tubing.

 

[MDin200?]

Originally posted by chef
so it seems like seII is a POS

how about cardio III vs master cardio?? ne1 compare these 2?

bump. I'm curious if anyone has thoughts about this too...

 

[strykynine]

Does anyone know which heart sound coincides with the carotid pulse?

 

[souljah1]

Originally posted by strykynine
Does anyone know which heart sound coincides with the carotid pulse?

The carotid pulse usually occurs between S1 and S2 and sounds that occur between S1 and S2 are usually Systolic murmurs. These can be of many different etiologies i.e. aortic stenosis, mitral regurg, murmur of HOCM, VSD, ASD, MVP, high speed flow murmurs, etc. (location, quality, etc help to differentiate). S3 and S4 occur in different phases of ventricular filling and during this phase you wouldn't expect any carotid pulsation. Not sure if this is what you are looking for, and I'm not even 100% sure that I am correct. It is late, I am tired, and this stuff was 10 months ago for me. Hope it helps.

 

[SolidGold]

Originally posted by strykynine
Does anyone know which heart sound coincides with the carotid pulse?

If you are using the carotid pulse as a guide to figure out which heart sound is S1 or S2, then the carotid pulse coincides with S1.

 

[Entei]

I think souljah1 is right. I was told that the carotid pulse happens between S1 and S2.

So no one wants to compare the Cardiology III with the Master? I've used the Master Cardiology, and I really liked it a lot. But, uh, don't you think it's a little pretentious for a med student to be lugging that thing around? 😳

 

[12R34Y]

I'm absolutely fascinated by people who think that med students have no right to wear a master cardiology.......it is almost identical in price and in acoustics to the littman III! who cares what it looks like. I have a master cardiology and so does half of my class.

really...no one cares what kind of stethoscope you have. You use them for physical exams usually without your attending present anyway unless they are teaching you specifically on a patient's chest.

personally i love the master cardiology, but that is just personal opinion.

I see attendings with cheapo stethoscopes sometimes. their choice.

doesn't matter.

later