Document Detail


In flight auscultation: comparison of electronic and conventional stethoscopes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20674225     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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.
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.
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).
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.
Authors:
Jean P Tourtier; Emmamuelle Fontaine; Sébastien Coste; Solange Ramsang; Patrick Schiano; Marie Viaggi; Nicolas Libert; Xavier Durand; Cyrus Chargari; Marc Borne
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2010-08-02
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of emergency medicine     Volume:  29     ISSN:  1532-8171     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2011 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-10-04     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8309942     Medline TA:  Am J Emerg Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  932-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Military Hospital VAL-DE-GRACE, Paris 75005, France.
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