Illustrated Guide to the Use of a Stethoscope
Oct 26, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Xu Gang
Introduction
The stethoscope is the most commonly used diagnostic instrument for clinicians. It should be checked to ensure that all parts are properly connected and that there are no air leaks in the tubing. The patient's chest and abdomen should be adequately exposed. The stethoscope diaphragm should be placed directly on the skin surface of the area to be auscultated, applying slight pressure to ensure close contact between the diaphragm and the skin. The patient should remain silent during auscultation, which should be performed in a quiet environment.
The stethoscope is the most commonly used diagnostic instrument for clinicians, primarily consisting of a sound-receiving component, a transmission component, and an auditory component. It is used to collect and amplify sounds emitted from the heart, lungs, arteries, veins, and other internal organs. The specific operating procedure is as follows:
1. Check that all parts of the stethoscope are properly connected and ensure there is no air leakage in the tubing. Select the appropriate chest piece according to different clinical needs.
2. When using the stethoscope, observe the direction of the earpieces. Gently pull the ear tubes outward and tilt them slightly forward before inserting them into the external ear canals.
3. Lightly tap the diaphragm with your hand; if you can hear the tapping sound, this confirms that the stethoscope is ready for use.
4. If no sound is heard when tapping the diaphragm, rotate the chest piece 180 degrees until a clicking sound indicates it has been switched to the opposite side. Then lightly tap the diaphragm again—you should now hear the vibration sound, indicating the stethoscope is correctly set and ready for patient examination.
5. Ask the patient to fully expose their chest and abdomen. Place the chest piece directly on the skin surface of the area to be auscultated, applying slight pressure to ensure tight contact between the chest piece and the skin. The patient should remain silent during auscultation, which must be performed in a quiet environment.
6. Each auscultation site generally requires 1 to 5 minutes, and auscultation should be performed symmetrically—comparing left and right, upper and lower regions.
