How to Use a Stethoscope

A stethoscope is a significant tool in the medical sphere. This tool is one of the first tools applied to measure blood pressure and identify heart and lung sounds. A sealed membrane known as a diaphragm is a part of the stethoscope that touches the patient. During its use, it transmits sound waves from the body to the air inside the stethoscope tube. The long, narrow tube increases the body’s sound as it transmits to the ear tip.

How To Operate a Stethoscope

Step 1: Wear The Device

The ear tips should be worn roughly in order to seal the ear. When you do it right, the tips will direct toward the nose and the external noises should become milder.

Step 2:Consider whether to apply the diaphragm of bell

The diaphragm is ideal for high-pitched sounds, such as breath sounds and normal heartbeat sounds. The bell is suitable for low pitch sounds, like heart murmuring, and bowel sounds. Such methods are applied for bruits detection and for heart sounds. For cardiac checkings, you may start listening with the diaphragm, and then with the bell. When you use the bell, hold the stethoscope to the patient’s skin neatly for the lowest sounds and firmly for the higher ones.

Step 3: Hold The Device

You should hold the chest piece with your hand, between the index and middle fingers, just above the knuckle. Curl the thumb under the tube to avoid interfering noise.

Step 4: Place The Device To The Body

The stethoscope should be properly placed against the patient’s skin, or at most one layer of the clothing if it is necessary.

What Stethoscope Can Do?

Measure Blood Pressure

The stethoscope is the most popular device in the medical sphere, however, it may be done improperly. The blood pressure cuff is increased around the upper arm. The stethoscope is applied to listen to the heartbeat sound right below the cuff, at the brachial artery. Many users may read diastolic pressure when the sound stops, but it isn’t recommended, as it may lead to too low diagnostic pressure.

Identify Lung Sounds

When you apply the stethoscope to the chest and back, it can check the correct breathing, and detect airway blockings or inflammation of the lungs. The proper lung checkup requires checking six chests and seven back “paired areas ”. The advantage of checking the paired areas and identical parts on the left side, so that the lungs can be properly compared to each other. When you provide checkings the proper way, it will be easier to identify any abnormalities. For more precise checkings, the patient should lean forward while checking the back. For chest and back, users should start the checkings above the clavicle.

Identify Heart Sound

In addition to heart rate checking, stethoscopes may warn doctors of hazards such as gallops or murmurs in the heartbeat. When it is seen to be hard, checking enough heartbeats over time may lead to more apparent irregular sounds. The proper heart checking requires listening to major areas around the heart, that each adjust to one main heart valve.

Identify Bowel Sound

To check the abnormal bowel sound is pretty easy, however, it is a significant operation in the possibility of bowel obstructions or paralytic ileus. Bubbling or gurgling sounds are typically harmless and may be generally ignored.

Checking abnormal Blood Flow (Bruits)

Bruits provide a whoosh-type that is a clear indicator of vascular problems. Bruits point to the artery that is narrower than usual, which may lead to dangerous conditions such as arteriosclerosis or aneurysms. Bruits are usually detected in arteries such as carotid, abdominal aortic, renal, femoral, and temporal.

Measuring The Span Of The Liver

This method works by placing the stethoscope below the right nipple, the index finger above the belt in line with the nipple, and neatly scratching the skin up to the chest piece of the stethoscope. When you get over the liver, you will hear the dull sound. Mark the place where you hear the dull sound and endpoints provide a decent measurement of the liver size in that location.

Important Tips

Try to clean the stethoscope regularly, especially the chest piece as stethoscopes can transmit bacteria and diseases from patient to patient. Never pull the stethoscope into the liquid to clean it as you may spoil the device. Use the 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes for the proper cleaning of the stethoscope. Tubes may be stiff because of skin oils. When it happens, it is normal to replace them instead of softening them.