Stethoscope question

[Jaydoc311]

Any advice on what peds/infant stethoscopes to get? I'm just starting my fourth year and will be doing several peds rotations. I have a littman cardiology III and sometimes feel that it's a little too big when using it on babies. I've seen a brand called ultrascope on some websites, and they look really fun for kids. However, I'm a little cautious about how the sound quality will be. Any suggestions?

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[dtn3t]

I'm a big fan of the Littman peds. It's small enough for babies and big enough for most kids/little teens. I'm sure it's not good enough if you're looking for the faintest of murmurs, but it does a pretty good job overall. If you do a search online you can get it for a little over $60 bucks.

 

[edmadison]

I'm a big fan of the Littman peds. It's small enough for babies and big enough for most kids/little teens. I'm sure it's not good enough if you're looking for the faintest of murmurs, but it does a pretty good job overall. If you do a search online you can get it for a little over $60 bucks.

Completely agree. I used my littman peds throughout residency. It was fine.

Ed

 

[generic]

I did a pediatric cardiology elective recently and I was quite interested to see what the attendings used. Unfortunately, they all told me that the old adage "it's what's between the ears that counts," is true.

About 5 used the Welch-Allyn Tycos pediatric scope
About 4 used the Littman Cardiology III
1 used the Tycos Harvey Triple-head (said he got it from Dr. Harvey himself)
A few others used random adult ones (Littmann Master Cardiology, etc.)

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

I did a pediatric cardiology elective recently and I was quite interested to see what the attendings used. Unfortunately, they all told me that the old adage "it's what's between the ears that counts," is true.

About 5 used the Welch-Allyn Tycos pediatric scope
About 4 used the Littman Cardiology III
1 used the Tycos Harvey Triple-head (said he got it from Dr. Harvey himself)
A few others used random adult ones (Littmann Master Cardiology, etc.)

I was told by a peds cardiologist that the Litmann Cardiology III is better than the Littman Peds stethoscope. I've never used the Peds one, so I can't comment personally.

 

[edmadison]

I was told by a peds cardiologist that the Litmann Cardiology III is better than the Littman Peds stethoscope. I've never used the Peds one, so I can't comment personally.

Better? That's very subjective. I would agree that you can hear a little bit better with your Cards III. But consider the following.

It's heavy
It's expensive
You will likely lose or have stolen one 'scope during residency
You won't be allowed to use it in the NICU or PICU

Think about what you'll be using it for 95% of the time: bowel sounds, lung sounds. One could argue that the value of diagnosis those subtle asymptomatic murmurs is much less now that the endocarditis prophylaxis rules have changed.

I have a Littman Peds, a Littman Classic and a Littman Cardiology III. I never used anything but the Peds (except when I misplaced it). Your ears will get better. Mine did. By the time I did cardiology in third year they were good enough. Of course our cardiologist echoed everybody so they really didn't need their 'scopes.

Ed

 

[TexasRose]

But the Littmann III has a pedi bell, so why wouldn't you use it if you had one? Plus, some of my "pedi" patients are 80+kg and the adult bell is more appropriate on them.

Can't use any stethescope in the NICU except the ones dedicated to the patients in our hospital.

 

[kristing]

But the Littmann III has a pedi bell, so why wouldn't you use it if you had one? Plus, some of my "pedi" patients are 80+kg and the adult bell is more appropriate on them.

Can't use any stethescope in the NICU except the ones dedicated to the patients in our hospital.

The Littmann III is HEAVY. That's why I switched to the pedi one intern year. I went back to the Littmann III my 3rd year, though because I had so many adolescents in clinic.

And we never got to use our stethoscopes ANYWHERE in the hospital except the ER, since all the kids had there own crappy $3.42 ones at the bedside to prevent spread of disease. Lightened our load, certainly, but made hearing things difficult!

 

[MilesMayhem]

The Littmann III is HEAVY. That's why I switched to the pedi one intern year. I went back to the Littmann III my 3rd year, though because I had so many adolescents in clinic.

And we never got to use our stethoscopes ANYWHERE in the hospital except the ER, since all the kids had there own crappy $3.42 ones at the bedside to prevent spread of disease. Lightened our load, certainly, but made hearing things difficult!

I use it as a slingshot to take care of pesky nurses. Appreciate the power of the master classic, yiiiiiihaaaaa.