Stethoscopes and learning (hearing)

[BACMEDIC]

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Anyone checking out equipment? (obviously I have way too much time on my hands before medical school starts!) I don?t want to be in a position of having to buy something quickly and uninformed, possibly buying something from the bookstore that may or may not be right for me. I?ve been researching stethoscopes and found that the price ranges from $6 to over $300 for an electronic version. After searching SDN and finding commentary from practicing physicians on stethoscopes, I think I will be picking up the Harvey DLX (2 head). I?m never the one wanting to buy something twice, once to learn the skill, then again when I go into practice. I?ve learned long ago that having the wrong or inferior tool is the worst thing you can do to yourself. What benefit is there when you?re asked to listen to a sound, but the stethoscope you have is incapable of picking it up or distinguishing it from other sounds? So, I?m not convinced that this stethoscope is overkill for a student; just maybe the reason that auscultation skills are lacking is because students are using inferior instruments. What better way to learn than with an instrument that has the best acoustics? My limited understanding of this subject is that learning the skill is hard, so may get discouraged - why put yourself at a disadvantage by using an inferior scope? A similar thread could be opened for other instruments.

Other than the caution of losing a good stethoscope, anyone have any thoughts, opinions, and concerns?

 

[jmdeer]

I cant find how to post a new topic


dumb me!

thanks if anyone can answer me

 

[Ryan]

Welcome! Just go to Forum Tools, on the upper-right corner of the Thread box, click on the little down arrow and click on post new thread.

Happy posting... 🙂
-Ryan

 

[Cowboy DO]

Ok the easy one first.

To post a new thread there is a button on the top left that says new thread, just click that. Should work.


Ok for the stethoscope, I would say stick to the classics. I have a Littmann Cardiology III and i think its awesome, it was about $100. Seriously as an MS1 you dont need anything better than that (IMHO). For a few reasons. 1) you dont really end up using it until 3rd year anyway, at least here at NYCOM. I mean we use it but we cant tell the difference between an S3/S4 sound and a hole in the ground so quality of the steth isnt really a factor. 2) Ive heard stories of people losing there stethoscope during rotations or other wise (a friend of mine lost her stuff at a starbucks this year). Its a big risk to throw down 300 bones for an item just to have it stolen, especially when you wouldn?t be able to tell the difference for another 3-4 years.

In my opinion go with the Littmann, unless you want to be a cardiologist and you want to guard the thing like a hawk, save your money for the oto/ophthalmoscope thats what?ll get you

 

[jmarra03]

UNE reccommends Littman Cardiology III to incoming students

 

[Green912]

The Littmann Cardio III is pretty standard issue. All Students at LECOM & PCOM are given a free one by the PA Osteopathic Med Society. They also come with a very good audio CD which covers just about all heart sounds.

 

[michDO'08]

New students at WVSOM will receive stethoscopes engraved w/names, although I don't know what kind. When I told my husband, he told me he would really like for me to use his old Littman...

He is in EMS, and used the Littman i bought him...until he put it away more that 2 yrs ago, after hearing his dad's last heartbeats with it (he took time off of work to take care of him till the end).

He says it would make his dad proud for me to use that specific one...since his dad can't be here to see me go to med school. Of course, I will use the old one to start out with, and put the "gifted" one up for use in the future.....

~mich

 

[HNS]

Anything Littman is good. As silly as it may sound I have found the soft ear tips most important. Not only are they comftornble but they form fit to your ears and block out extraneous noise. Besides that the rest is just hype.

 

[Amy B]

He is in EMS, and used the Littman i bought him...until he put it away more that 2 yrs ago, after hearing his dad's last heartbeats with it

Wow, how touching.

 

[group_theory]

In my opinion go with the Littmann, unless you want to be a cardiologist and you want to guard the thing like a hawk, save your money for the oto/ophthalmoscope thats what?ll get you

Actually, cardiologists should have enough experience that they can hear and differentiate S3 from S2 using just plain toilet paper cardboard tubing 😉

It is we, as ignorant medical students, along with new medicine residents, that need the high quality ones to hear the sounds. Most of the missed sounds are not due to quality of the stethoscope (unless it is really cheap) but due to the idiot in between the ear piece. That's why you gotta practice practice practice listening to the various heart sounds, so that you can hear the clicks, murmurs, the A2/P2 splitting, and differentiate that from S3 🙁

POMA will purchase Littman Cardiology IIIs for students at LECOM and PCOM (in PA). They are nice ... but a bit on the heavy side. You can't go wrong w/ that Littman Cardioly 3 - has a tunable diaphram (for high pitch and low pitch noises) with an adult and pediatric side. The pediatric side can be converted to a traditional bell if you prefer. I find the pediatric side useful when listening for carotid bruits.

my $0.025 cent (adjusted for inflation)

Group_theory
PCOM 2007

 

[luckystar]

When listening to vascular sounds, e.g. bruits, the bell should always be used, right?

I bought a DRG because it looks totally different so I can recognize my scope at a glance amongst all the Littmans. This model also has a tunable diaphragm and a separate bell, but you can't convert the bell into a peds diaphragm. I like it, so far.

 

[AUdacious]

Make sure you check with your school before buying big things like your stethoscope. Some of the schools are very specific with what you can and can not use.

 

[Doctor Peloncito]

Anyone checking out equipment? (obviously I have way too much time on my hands before medical school starts!) I don?t want to be in a position of having to buy something quickly and uninformed, possibly buying something from the bookstore that may or may not be right for me. I?ve been researching stethoscopes and found that the price ranges from $6 to over $300 for an electronic version. After searching SDN and finding commentary from practicing physicians on stethoscopes, I think I will be picking up the Harvey DLX (2 head). I?m never the one wanting to buy something twice, once to learn the skill, then again when I go into practice. I?ve learned long ago that having the wrong or inferior tool is the worst thing you can do to yourself. What benefit is there when you?re asked to listen to a sound, but the stethoscope you have is incapable of picking it up or distinguishing it from other sounds? So, I?m not convinced that this stethoscope is overkill for a student; just maybe the reason that auscultation skills are lacking is because students are using inferior instruments. What better way to learn than with an instrument that has the best acoustics? My limited understanding of this subject is that learning the skill is hard, so may get discouraged - why put yourself at a disadvantage by using an inferior scope? A similar thread could be opened for other instruments.

Other than the caution of losing a good stethoscope, anyone have any thoughts, opinions, and concerns?

I hate my harvey dlx. It is too short and I don't get good sound at all. I've tried repositioning and changing my earpieces and different diaphragms. Nothing seems to help. I really like the littmann cardio stethos though. I think they are easier to use and produce a better accoustics. but DON't go by my advice! Go to an medical equipment store and try several. If you have to wait until school starts, there will probably be equipment reps there to peddle their wares. Try everything before you make a decision.

wbdo

 

[(nicedream)]

Barry, maybe FOMA will get us stethoscopes since POMA does it for LECOM students in PA.

 

[BACMEDIC]

Barry, maybe FOMA will get us stethoscopes since POMA does it for LECOM students in PA.

Hi Noah,

Ya, based on the responsed to this thread, I cancelled my order.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

 

[brianjc]

I recieved a master cardiology scope from my mom at christmas and it's been in my desk drawer ever since. If you don't have the money don't buy any equipment for awhile. I just borrowed an otoscope the one time I needed it. I seriously think welch allen is giving the schools a kick back if x amount of students buy their stuff (that's why it is required).

On the flip side I've been doing lots of volunteer health fairs where you need your own stuff! So for the first two years of school you don't need anything, but if you are volunteering at health fairs all equipment is nice to have. At least that's how it is here at AZCOM

 

[2sno]

I have an EMT licensce, and work as a tech in an ER. Most of the nurses I work with, and the physicians all have these and prefer them. Not having the bell and using the tuneable diaphragm is a bit different at first, but once you get used to it, I think its the best out there. Just FYI even the cheaper onces from littmann are great and have a warrranty with them and should last for several years. Just my personal preference, but thought I would give everyone my 2 cents.

Trey

 

[jonb12997]

My Rescue Squad bought all the EMT's Master Classic II's and I love it. It works well in the back of the ambulance so I'm assuming a quiet doctor's office or a classroom will be even better. It's a little cheaper than the Cardiology III's. but like other people have said, try each one out. You'll find the one you like.

Jon