I have seen many threads on stethoscope recommendations, but just wonder what the numbers look like! So what does everyone own/recommend! Please feel free to leave a more specific stethoscope name if yours is not listed since I can't include all possibilities! Please feel free to leave any comments!
Stethoscope Poll
- Thread starter dogpython
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kinda surprised that the welch allyn elite is now showing at about 25%, thought the littmann would dominate the others by a a much larger margin, but maybe we need more votes...anyone have any comments on the "smaller name" brands (ie mdf, magna fortis, etc) vs. the popular brands?
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When I was first looking for a stethoscope I searched for opinions on here and talked to other students, and the vast majority supported Littmann. I ended up getting the Welch Allyn Elite, though, based on doing a lot more research on my own (lots of google searches) and talking to a few doctors. I think you can't go wrong either way, but I'm very happy with my choice.
B
Blade28
I own two pairs of the Cardiology III, and one Cardiology Masater.
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My exact same experience. Plus the brushed look of the welch allyn elite is so damn SEXY (yeah, I just called a stethoscope sexy)
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I've tried three types of steths, a Littmann Classic II SE, a Littmann Master Cardiology, and a Welch Allyn Harvey DLX. I've used the Classic II SE quite a bit and really liked it. It's a pretty basic steth, and I sometimes had trouble with the tunable diaphragm (okay, it annoyed me sometimes), but it worked for me in the field and on loud ambulances. I had to buy the Harvey DLX for medical school, which I thought I'd like better because it didn't have the tunable diaphragm, but I didn't like it at all. I just didn't like the feel and somehow I could never get the same sound quality from it that I normally got from my Classic II SE, even though it is supposedly a better steth. I was pretty unhappy with the DLX, so I decided to buy one that I could use that had a double lumen (the Classic II SE is only single lumen). I found a good deal for the Master Cardiology and decided to splurge and buy it. Wow. I know it's way overkill for what I need right now, but I can hear heart, breath, and bowel sounds through two layers of clothing even better with the MC than with either the Classic II SE or the Harvey DLX on bare skin. I don't care if it's unnecessary firepower; my ears appreciate it.
id be interested to see how many tried out the stethoscope and compared several before they bought thiers and how many bought one because they were told to or because everyone else had it...anyone want to offers some input?
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I own a DRG Staff Cardiology and a Philips Rappaport-Sprague (now discontinued). Both are excellent. I use the DRG day-to-day because the Philips has two separate tubes which can bump against each other, and I prefer not to think about that when I'm auscultating. I also like the jelly earpieces.
The Philips diaphragm is not tunable, which I actually consider a plus.
I have tried the Littman Cardio III and one of the Welch Allyns (Elite I think). The Cardio III is very good and is easier to stuff into a pocket than the DRG or the HP. The Welch Allyn was not as clear for me but perhaps I needed to adjust the binaurals.
I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.
The Philips diaphragm is not tunable, which I actually consider a plus.
I have tried the Littman Cardio III and one of the Welch Allyns (Elite I think). The Cardio III is very good and is easier to stuff into a pocket than the DRG or the HP. The Welch Allyn was not as clear for me but perhaps I needed to adjust the binaurals.
I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.
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All of the reps from the manufacturers came to our school one day for the equipment sale. So I had the chance to test out a variety of stethoscopes before picking one out. I went with the Littman Cardio III. It comes in tomorrow! Hooray!
Is that sad that I'm so excited about my stethoscope coming in? 😕
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I hope they didn't teach you that at medical school... one of my professors told me that steth through clothing is an instant fail for USMLE Step 2 CS.
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I have an ADC ghetto cardiology scope... and it works just fine. The only pts I have trouble with are the ones who are TFTE (Too Fat To Evaluate). You'd probably have to be a cardiology attending to really notice the difference between it and the overpriced brands. Assuming a difference even exists!
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I have the Phillips, which is pretty decent. For one, you can easily unscrew any of the pieces and replace them with whatever you need, pediatric or whatever (although I never do that). Number 2, the part that you click to switch from bell to diaphragm is nice and sturdy - on the Littman type ones (and a $10 one that I have) sometimes you can be twisting the head and instead of clicking to the other side, it is just spinning within the rubber tube and the head can end up backwards. This might not be a big deal for most people but it annoys me pretty bad. Number 3, the tubes are nice and flexible so you can twist it all up in a knot and put it in your pocket - also this means is it not permanently curved like the Littmans. I am kind of tired of having to carry around a stethoscope, so at least that gets it somewhat out of the way, although then it gets stuck in your pocket.
Ok, so my stethoscope preferences are rather superficial. Luckily, after tomorrow I can put my stethoscope in the closet and not bring it out again until 2008. 👍 Can you tell I'm going to be a pathologist? 😉
Ok, so my stethoscope preferences are rather superficial. Luckily, after tomorrow I can put my stethoscope in the closet and not bring it out again until 2008. 👍 Can you tell I'm going to be a pathologist? 😉
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For the incoming class of 2011 (ie my class) a donor bought every MS1 a Cardiology III. For being free it's pretty sweet. 🙄
after reading all the reviews got a welch allyn elite today and i am very excited (i.e. listening to everything i can!)... it seems to be a solid choice for a cardiology stethoscope...thanks to all the people who offerered advice!
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To anyone who got a Welch Allyn Harvey Elite, the extra piece of round plastic that says "Welch Allyn Harvey" is actually another diaphragm for your stethoscope. You might have mistakened it for a sticker, as I did originally. There wasn't any information about it in the manual, so I thought I'd just throw that bit of info out.
I have heard that it's better to swap on that diaphragm (the flat one that says "Welch Allyn Harvey") and take off the current one that originally came on your stethoscope (the black one with ridges, also known as the "corrugated diaphragm") when we start learning on it.
I have heard that it's better to swap on that diaphragm (the flat one that says "Welch Allyn Harvey") and take off the current one that originally came on your stethoscope (the black one with ridges, also known as the "corrugated diaphragm") when we start learning on it.
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Yikes! Its a stethoscope, not a guitar. It doesn't come with a bumper sticker.
Yeah, that bit of plastic is the flat diaphragm. And yes, while you are learning, it is a good idea to convert to the flat diaphragm. The flat diaphragm detects high frequency sounds, and the bell detects low frequency sounds.
The corrugated diaphragm detects the approximately the same low frequency sounds as the bell. It's advantage is that it allows you to "survey" the precordia for the low frequency sounds, rather than have to immediately pinpoint them with the bell.
Using only the corrugated diaphragm and the bell is kinda redundant (both are for low frequency). So go with the high frequency flat diaphragm. As you are learning, you'll find that there are only six specific points that you need to auscultate with the bell to detect the low frequency sounds. Its not that complicated, and you'll be asked to pinpoint the pathological low frequency sounds anyway.
When you get experienced and lazy, you can quickly survey for pathological low frequency sounds with the corrugated diaphragm, and order a 3D Echo to make the diagnosis. As a student, go with the traditional flat diaphragm and bell.
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this is an aside, but when we were are all buying equipment last year, I refused to pay $400+ for a diagnostic kit. I still wanted one though to practice with so that I could get good at it. I decided that it may be cheaper to piece together the kit by buying the battery handle, ophthalmoscope head, otoscope head, and all that other stuff separately on ebay. the name I came up for all this: "the ghettoscope" 😀
