Stethoscope recommendation?

[CBG23]

So, I lost my trusty littmann cardiology iii a few months ago and am in the market for a new stethoscope. Turns out the III has been discontinued and replaced by the IV. I was all set to pick up a IV, but read the reviews for this and there appears to be a flaw in the design that makes the diaphragms prone to falling off. This makes me leary of picking it up. I also had a II SE in the past but it seems to have been replaced by the classic III. I am NOT looking for something a cardiologist needs. Just need something to identify basic murmurs, clearly hear breath sounds, and listen to bowel sounds. Any recommendations?

 

[gutonc]

This gets asked on here every so often (there was a discussion in the last year or so) and every time it does, I say "Welch-Allyn Harvey DLX or GTFO". I'm saying it again.

 

[CBG23]

This gets asked on here every so often (there was a discussion in the last year or so) and every time it does, I say "Welch-Allyn Harvey DLX or GTFO". I'm saying it again.

Thanks for the reply- it seems pretty pricey compared to some other models. What do you like about this one?

Also, if it makes a difference, just realized I left an important word out of my original post - NOT looking for something a cardiologist needs

 

[IM2GI]

since I have lost/had stollen 3 of these already in my short career Id buy the $75 Littman whatever

 

[gutonc]

since I have lost/had stollen 3 of these already in my short career Id buy the $75 Littman whatever

I'm still on the one I bought as an M1 in 1996.

 

[DoubleBogey]

Word to the wise - if you have have a demented pt with behavioral issues (ie someone who likes to bite) then use the isolation stethoscopes as they’re typically longer and you can maintain your distance

 

[jdh71]

since I have lost/had stollen 3 of these already in my short career Id buy the $75 Littman whatever

Lol. Do you even listen to anything?

 

[aafisahar]

The 20 buck ones off Amazon are fine for 95% of cases.

 

[jdh71]

This gets asked on here every so often (there was a discussion in the last year or so) and every time it does, I say "Welch-Allyn Harvey DLX or GTFO". I'm saying it again.

I feel bad for the non DLX peasants

 

[gutonc]

I feel bad for the non DLX peasants

If I forget my stethoscope and have to borrow one from somebody, if it's not a DLX, I just put my ear to the chest wall instead.

The sound quality is better than anything Littman makes.

 

[ThoracicGuy]

So, I lost my trusty littmann cardiology iii a few months ago and am in the market for a new stethoscope. Turns out the III has been discontinued and replaced by the IV. I was all set to pick up a IV, but read the reviews for this and there appears to be a flaw in the design that makes the diaphragms prone to falling off. This makes me leary of picking it up. I also had a II SE in the past but it seems to have been replaced by the classic III. I am NOT looking for something a cardiologist needs. Just need something to identify basic murmurs, clearly hear breath sounds, and listen to bowel sounds. Any recommendations?

Whatever the med student/nurse/janitor is using?

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

The Electronic Littman stethoscope is useful for listening to murmurs and describing a phonocardiograph... you know... bar tricks.

Unclear if stethoscope is even that useful even in outpatient pulmonary clinic when lung U/S is a thing in outpatient offices.
Wheezing for obstructive airways disease perhaps..

Bowel sounds? peristalsis? Succussion splash? Bilateral BS for the ETT placement?

The isolation yellow stethoscope suffices.

 

[GoldenFish]

i literally coasted w/ one of the ****ty blue ones found in every room and it worked fine lol

 

[Instatewaiter]

So, I lost my trusty littmann cardiology iii a few months ago and am in the market for a new stethoscope. Turns out the III has been discontinued and replaced by the IV. I was all set to pick up a IV, but read the reviews for this and there appears to be a flaw in the design that makes the diaphragms prone to falling off. This makes me leary of picking it up. I also had a II SE in the past but it seems to have been replaced by the classic III. I am NOT looking for something a cardiologist needs. Just need something to identify basic murmurs, clearly hear breath sounds, and listen to bowel sounds. Any recommendations?

I am a little picky when it comes to stethoscopes.
I have a cardiology IV now, had a cardiology III before it walked away, have a DLX, have a master cardiology, used the 3100 electronic for a while. I am a cardiologist. You know what a cardiologist needs? An echo machine.

I have basically created the same post about 1000 times on SDN at this point but the long and short is:
- Littmann Cardiology III/IV has a better diaphragm than the Welch Allyn products (tycos/DLX).
- The DLX has a far superior bell.
- Most of the schmucks don't know what the bell is for and sure as sh8t can't hear a gallop to save their life anyway.
- I say go with the cardiology IV and call it a day. It says, "I care enough to listen to the organs but am not a pretentious douche enough to spend three or four hundred bucks on a stethoscope."

IMHO, the master cardiology isn't a very good scope. I used one for a while and then stopped b/c I just didn't find it's bell/low pitched very good or it's diaphragm. On skinny COPDers/End Stage HF patients you can't get addequate purchase to hear much.

 

[jdh71]

If the auscultation portion of physical exam were a lab test we'd never order it.

I've often found it amusing stethoscope selection is usually based on what you (hope) you can hear over the heart. But I think that heartbsounds are low yield because they lack much specificity with your ears.

I like the DLX because I can just hear everything else louder and better. You can't beat the lung sounds from the DLX.

 

[PlutoBoy]

I use a CXR and a 2D-echo.

 

[Hamhock]

Vscan Pocket Ultrasound, GE Portable Ultrasound Scanner - GE Healthcare Australia and New Zealand

I "lost" my stethoscope when I was a PGY3.

HH

 

[NewYorkDoctors]

Vscan Pocket Ultrasound, GE Portable Ultrasound Scanner - GE Healthcare Australia and New Zealand

I "lost" my stethoscope when I was a PGY3.

HH

I use a Phillips Lumify . I’m interested in Butterfly .

There are always “rales” and “diminished breath sounds.”

Though to be fair the physical exam is merely to bill a note .