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In flight auscultation: comparison of electronic and conventional stethoscopes.
- Source :
-
The American journal of emergency medicine [Am J Emerg Med] 2011 Oct; Vol. 29 (8), pp. 932-5. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Aug 02. - Publication Year :
- 2011
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Abstract
- Objectives: The ability to auscultate during air medical transport is compromised by high ambient noise levels. The aim of this study was to assess the capabilities of a traditional and an amplified stethoscope (which is expected to reduce background and ambient noise) to assess heart and breath sounds during medical transport in a Falcon 50 plane.<br />Methods: A prospective, double-blind, randomized study was performed. We tested 1 model of traditional stethoscope (Littman cardiology III) and 1 model of amplified stethoscope (Littman 3100). We studied heart and lung auscultation during real medical evacuations aboard Falcon 50 (medically configured). For each, the quality of auscultation was described using a numeric rating scale (ranging from 0 to 10, with 0 corresponding to "I hear nothing" and 10 corresponding to "I hear perfectly"). Comparisons were accomplished using a t test for paired values.<br />Results: A total of 32 comparative evaluations were performed. For cardiac auscultation, the value of the rating scale was 5.8 ± 1.5 and 6.4 ± 1.9, respectively, for the traditional and amplified stethoscope (P = .018). For lung sounds, quality of auscultation was estimated at 3.3 ± 2.4 for traditional stethoscope and at 3.7 ± 2.9 for amplified stethoscope (P = .15).<br />Conclusions: Practicians in Falcon 50 are more able to hear cardiac sounds with an amplified than with a traditional stethoscope, whereas there is no significant difference concerning breath sounds auscultation.<br /> (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1532-8171
- Volume :
- 29
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of emergency medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20674225
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2010.04.002