Author: Faris G. Araj, MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, Julie Cox, BSN, RN, Baylor Scott; White Health, Dallas, Texas
We read with great interest the recent article by Silverman and Balk, and agree that the sound quality of the digital stethoscope is just as good, or superior to an analog stethoscope.
This is important to today's practice of medicine where cardiovascular physical examinations are abridged, poorly executed, and minimal effort is undertaken to optimize the auscultatory milieu for a higher yield exam.
Amplification of sound does not necessarily result in clearer appreciation of heart sounds and murmurs as motion artifacts and surrounding noises are amplified as well