Precordial stethoscope?

allnurses Guide · Jan 24, 2010

Hello everyone. I'm an SRNA getting ready to start clinicals. Our students have been fitted for earpieces, but I'm wondering what else I need to get to construct the entire device.

I have read on some websites of people using airline tubing to construct their own. It's said to work pretty well from what I have read. How exactly do you do this? You just have to then purchase a set of the chest pieces? What about connections?

Anyone done this before? Precordials can get pretty expensive so I just thought I'd ask to see if this actually transmits sound effectively.

Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

You can order the tubing, chest pieces etc. online. Here is where I ordered my chest pieces and tubing. http://www.ccrmed.com/medstore/precordial_supplies.asp Scroll down to the bottom and skip the amplified precordials unless you an extra 400-500 dollars to spend. I bought the precordial stethoscope with foam earpiece, quick disconnect, and 48" tubing along with the 4 different sizes of chest pieces. It will cost you less than $40 before shipping (you may want to get the precodial stick pads too if your facility doesn't keep them on the anesthesia cart), and then all you have to do is take off the foam earpiece they have attached to the tubing and stick on your premade earpiece.

Being able to hear with your precordial stethoscope is all about your earpiece you can hear great with the custom made earpiece, but if you try the foam disposable earpieces precordials are next to worthless.

crnabrian · Feb 2, 2010

And then I bet you will find that most CRNAs do not use precordial stethoscopes any more. Our monitors have become much more sophisticated, obliviating the need for precordials. Kind of like in the really olden days of keeping your finger on the patient's pulse throughout surgery.

AdonaiLoveable · Feb 3, 2010

Though I find it generally somewhat distracting to wear my precordial for entire cases (balancing all the OR chat, monitors beeps and buzzes, and the sounds of the patients heart and lungs can be a lot), I find it really helpful to use it at least intermittently during all pediatric cases and during LMA or mask general cases for adults.

Don't forget to label the tubing with your name, email/cell phone number in case it gets separated from you...like when you drop off your patient at PACU and you leave the stethoscope there with them.

Divergirl · Feb 10, 2010

I found tubing for my precordial at a hobby shop. They sell tubing for miniture airplanes that fit my ear piece perfectly. I use a precordial stethoscope on all peds.

beardedhalo · Jul 5, 2010

So far as a SRNA, I've only used my precordial when my instructor asked me too (on adult patients). I've been told it is a very common practice to use them with peds. I did find it useful on a MAC case listening to air movement and obstruction.