Stethoscopes, anyone?

[71263]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all. Ive decided to invest some money into buying a new stethoscope. The one I have is a dud that I got with my AMA membership (just the other day, I saw a patient who had a pretty obvious carotid bruit but I could barely hear it at all with what I had).

In any case, Im pretty much set on a Littmann. I know there are several models out there and I was wondering what you guys thought is the best for its price. I plan on using this for at least the rest of med school, and possibly into residency. Any suggestions?

 

[lord_jeebus]

This is the only post on SDN worth reading about stethoscopes:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=3289972&postcount=15

Everyone else will tell you they have a cardioIII and therefore it is the best. But this guy has actually used lots of different ones and understands the differences.

 

[Keg]

I just picked up a Cardio II on ebay for $23, so they're out there...

 

[suckstobeme]

Despite what some people say, I really do think a good stethoscope makes a difference. Now this doesnt mean you have to out and spend a fortune on one. I used to have a Littman Classic 2, a Littman Cardio 3, and a Welch Allyn Harvey. The Littman Classic is really a piece of junk. I wouldnt buy it again. The Cardio 3 had excellent sound quality. It was a quality scope, but unfortunately it got stolen. I then got one of the Welch Allyns. I would say the sound quality is pretty similar b/n the Cardio 3 and the Harvey. If I could go back and do it all over, I'd just get a Harvey. Good sound quality and it has a classic bell and diaphragm instead of a tunable diaphragm that the Littman has. Not that you could really go wrong with a Littman Cardio 3.