Classic II SE vs. Cardiology III

mcknis · Dec 19, 2008

Daisy,

The cardiology III is a nice scope, but it is definitely not needed or even required for a post surg floor. The classic II would do just fine for assessments on both peds and adults. Just go with which one you can hear best with and which one feels best around your neck for a whole shift

vashtee, RN · Dec 19, 2008

Pediatric patients are easier to hear through stethoscope due to the low amount of body fat, in my experience.

madampomfrey · Dec 20, 2008

I too am currently debating this. I just graduated nursing school and my sister gave me a voucher for the stethoscope of my choice for grad. I have been told that the Littman Cardiology III was the way to go but I went to the store and think I hear heart sounds the same in it and the classic II. The classic II is very lightweight and I like that. But I will be working in ICU so I'm unsure if this is really the best way to go. I don't want buyer's remorse. Suggestions?

Sean 91 · Dec 22, 2008

(I've posted before elsewhere.) Had a III which I had bought during nursing school for the day I'd graduate, and bought an ADC 603 to use during school several years ago. But recently, after doing a 20-min sound test between the two (having used the Littman III maybe three times) sold it after comparing it again to my $30 ADC 603. (As someone noted elsewhere, the III is heavier, not as agile using it, tight earpieces.)

The $30 ADC 603 is comparable (I think) to the $80-$90 Littman Cardio II (the II is slightly shorter). Yesterday, I held my ADC 603 to the neighboring nurse's Littman II side by side, listened to both, and, again, there was absolutely no difference in sound that I could perceive. So you don't HAVE to spend $100-$200 unless you WANT to. On the floor all you need to tell is the heart is beating, regular or irregular, murmur, lung sounds (cheaper works just fine for that unless, perhaps, you are planning to round with a cardiologist), bowel sounds (gurgles come just fine over cheaper. The trick with stethoscopes is not too cheap, rather than not too expensive. (For instance, I can't hear anything over the disposable $5 plastic scopes they want you to use for MRSA patients.) I'm just going to get another ADC 603 for back up.

Sean 91 · Dec 27, 2008

You know what, I think stethoscopes are like buying chocolates from Neiman Marcus vs. Walmart (not that I am recommending a stethoscope from Walmart). You may have heard of the NoKA chocolate scam a few years ago where a couple of smart Canadian accountants (nothing against Canadians) started the NoKA chocolate company in Texas, selling primarily through Neiman Marcus. At first they claimed to have made their chocolatea lovingly from scratch. But then it was discovered that they were buying the chocolate from a French chocolate distributor and marking, melting down those bars, and putting them in molds, and put some gold foil around their product. They marked it up 200%-2000%!!!!! (Sort of like Nike shoes, really, which are made for about $1.75 in Vietnam and like places.) To avoid FBI scrutiny, they switched their marketing claim to the packaging being the important thing and that both the buyer and the person getting the gift of NoKA were getting the "NoKA experience" because the chocolate was so expensive and so nicely wrapped. And after comparing many stethoscopes of nurses in my department, I think that it's basically they same thing with really expensive brands of stethoscopes--a lot of the esteem comes from the price and the wrapping (the name on the diaphragm). (But just my opinion.) Happy holidays.

EveDeHarben · Dec 28, 2008

I am trying to decide between a Littman Classic II SE or a Cardiology III. I will be on a post-surgical unit, but this unit also has some peds (including babies that are only a few days old), and it sounds like the Cardiology III would be better for peds. I am not sure if the hospital has neonate scopes on hand to use--that is probably something I should ask before I buy anything. I want to make sure I can hear everything I need to when doing my assessments; that is so frustrating when you can't hear! But I am not sure if I truly need the Cardiology III or if the Classic II SE is plenty good for my purposed? I hope to get into post-partum after a yr or 2, so that makes it different than if I was trying to get into say ICU. Right now I have some no-name $20 scope that works just OK. I am willing to pay more to get something that makes my job easier...I have been reading this stethoscope section and it sounds like everybody really loves their Littmans.
I guess my biggest question is how does the Classic II SE work on peds? Does anyone who works on peds use the Classic II SE or is it unsuitable?

Either stethoscope will work fine for you. The advantage of the Littmann cardiology III is that it has both a large and a small diaphragm as opposed to the bell and large diaphragm of the Classic II SE. A small diaphragm is better at picking up sounds from small irregular surfaces such as the chest of a peds patient. But dont throw away your $20 dollar no name scope yet. If it came with extra pediatric diaphrams it may be perfect for you. There are Sprague Rapapport clones which cost 10-20 dollars and which come with interchangeable bells and diaphragms, including peds sizes. One of these may actually suit your needs better than the Littmann cardiology III. Plus one of these equaled the Littmann cardiology III in objectic acoustic testing done at the following link: http://www.forusdocs.com/reviews/Acoustic_Stethoscope_Review.htm This is the only objective stethoscope review on the internet that I am aware of.