Stethoscopes

[reactant]

Well, looks like my Littman stethoscope grew some legs today because now its gone. Can anyone suggest another good quality, low priced (a must) stethoscope that they have used in their job?

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[oldman]

low cost eh? I'm sure there are plenty of other stethoscopes that have their own legs too! (aka five finger discount)

I would love to buy one of those amped up electronic ones they're only about 400 bucks.

 

[reactant]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by oldman:
•I would love to buy one of those amped up electronic ones they're only about 400 bucks. •••••I would like to get a hold of one too, but I would probably have to chain it to myself and attach a club to it when it's not in use. I've tested one out before, and let me tell you, it's like listening to a drum and bass techno beat. You can even add distortion... :wink:

 

[Patiently Waiting]

A friend of mine recently went out shopping for a stethoscope and told me that the price ranges from $30 to over $200... I don't think that the $30 one is made of plastic or anything, but why so much of price gap? Can one hear heart beats much much better if use the expensive one?

 

[reactant]

Well, the more expensive stethoscopes are able to pickup a wider range of tones (to hear those faint murmurs), more comfortable (usually), easily repairable, and longer-lasting (usually, that is, until it grows legs) than the lower priced stethoscopes. But, since they do become lost or stolen more often than not, you want to try to find a balance between price and quality.

 

[oldman]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by reactant:
•Well, the more expensive stethoscopes are able to pickup a wider range of tones (to hear those faint murmurs), more comfortable (usually), easily repairable, and longer-lasting (usually, that is, until it grows legs) than the lower priced stethoscopes. But, since they do become lost or stolen more often than not, you want to try to find a balance between price and quality.•••••i saw belt holsters for stethoscopes. if i had an expensive one, i'd keep it close. it's like my cell phone, i always have it on my belt.

 

[streetdoc]

Try estethoscopes.com
i got a good deal on a littmann (master cardiology) on that web site.
and yes, you can hear certain "atypical" sounds better with the more expensive "ears." If you just need it for blood pressures, lung sounds, ect., don't worry about buying the high-priced ears. If you want to hear heart sounds other than SI, SII, go for the "better" , more expensive, ones.

 

[oldman]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by streetdoc:
•Try estethoscopes.com
i got a good deal on a littmann (master cardiology) on that web site.
and yes, you can hear certain "atypical" sounds better with the more expensive "ears." If you just need it for blood pressures, lung sounds, ect., don't worry about buying the high-priced ears. If you want to hear heart sounds other than SI, SII, go for the "better" , more expensive, ones.•••••that site isn't working. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

[reactant]

how much did you pay for your littman?

 

[Future_Doc]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by reactant:
•Well, looks like my Littman stethoscope grew some legs today because now its gone. •••••Did you check the rear-view mirror in your car? I know how you med-school types like to show those things off! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[reactant]

I'll check the rear view in the morning...

 

[The Fly]

If you don't mind doing it, I would try ebay -- where you could get a great price on a slightly used stethoscope. . .

 

[deva]

There was a really great thread on the allo forum about stethoscopes. I hope this link works.
<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=002510" target="_blank">stethescope discussion</a>

 

[Patiently Waiting]

I just checked out <a href="http://www.allheart.com." target="_blank">www.allheart.com.</a> It looks like this website offers many unused stethoscopes at a discounted price.

Please help me figure out the differences between cardiology III, master cardiology, classic II and many others. With an exception of some fancy looking electronic ones they all seem to fall within $100-200, so if the price is not an issue, why so many classes?

I noticed that there was one stethoscope (Pretige Sprague style) which was outrangeously cheaper than the rest..it was priced at $13. It is recommended for those on budget but seeking a quality stethoscope.. Has any of you ever tried this?

 

[locitamd]

Hey! I just checked out allheart.com (per your suggestion) and there was a pop-up window advertising a contest to win a free Littmann. I thought everyone should know about it...

 

[Patiently Waiting]

Coolio. I just entered the contest.

 

[Patiently Waiting]

I'm gonna bump this up...can anyone answer my earlier question? Aside from the pricing difference, there seem way too many kinds of stethoscope. How does one go about to pick? BTW, I'm not planning on buying an electronic one til I get my MD.

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Patiently Waiting:
•I'm gonna bump this up...can anyone answer my earlier question? Aside from the pricing difference, there seem way too many kinds of stethoscope. How does one go about to pick? BTW, I'm not planning on buying an electronic one til I get my MD.•••••Ahhh. You don't need an electronic one even when you have MD behind your name -- I work in an emergency dept. as a paramedic and I don't know a single doctor that uses one. Ironically, most docs use cheap sprague-rappaport scopes because their fancy littman master cardio was stolen when they were an intern.

Don't waste your $$. If you have to have a littman, the Classic IIse is probably more than enough. If you want something nicer, the master classic is plenty enough. But it's all overkill...

 

[Patiently Waiting]

Thanks the Fly!!

I've recently got a sprague style stethoscope by the Prestige Medical as a present. I guess I no longer need to worry about buying another one then.

 

[Future_Doc]

What makes a Littman better than another stethescope? I have a Prestige Medical that was given as a gift.

 

[The Fly]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Future_Doc:
•What makes a Littman better than another stethescope? I have a Prestige Medical that was given as a gift.•••••Nothing. It's analogous to ascertaining the difference between say the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Lexus LX400 -- they're made by the same company, and they're the same car -- one just has fancier wrapping and is more 'prestigious.'

Honestly, unless you go into cardiology or want to compete with other docs with needlessly fancy stethoscopes, you'll do fine with your prestige medical and patiently waiting will do fine with his sprague-style stethoscope.

 

[reactant]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by The Fly:
•

Originally posted by Future_Doc:
[qb]Honestly, unless you go into cardiology or want to compete with other docs with needlessly fancy stethoscopes, you'll do fine with your prestige medical and patiently waiting will do fine with his sprague-style stethoscope. •••••Well said. Although you won't hear certain sounds or frequencies on the inexpensive scopes, there are many people who are practicing just fine without the need to buy the more expensive model.

 

[Future_Doc]

So - there are some sounds that I will be missing with my "cheap" scope? I guess there's your difference. Now to find a littman's.