Auscultating obese patients

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Sometimes when auscultations certain patients, typically the extremely obese, but sometimes non obese patients, I don't hear a damn thing, or the sounds are extremely faint at best. I have a good scope, Littmann Cardiology 3. Any ideas to improve this? I don't want to miss anything.

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Specializes in Critical care.

If it's lung and heart sounds ye seek, then perhaps hoist their upper regions high and listen from the stern.

(Sit em up and listen to their posterior lungs and their heart tones usually are also louder).

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If it's lung and heart sounds ye seek, then perhaps hoist their upper regions high and listen from the stern.

(Sit em up and listen to their posterior lungs and their heart tones usually are also louder).

The most recent one he was sitting up. I noticed H and P and a cardiology consult both described heart sounds as distant.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Fair enough, some folks indeed do have distant heart tones and no amount of positioning will improve that. Left side-lying or seated leaning forward are both techniques to generally improve your chances.

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