Auscultation | Bell or Diaphragm ? 2/2

Views: 1277 Created: 2013.07.20

First post

1) When auscultating with a double head Stethoscope, do you prefer the bell or the diaphragm side ?

2) When being auscultated, do you prefer the bell or the diaphragm side of the Stethoscope ?

(Me, I prefer the diaphragm - it looks sexier, it sounds sexier (the "diaphragm sound" when lifting the steth from the skin :-) and it feels sexier, when the diaphragm is sticking to the skin. Littmann's are the best here, but also the Supraphon (single head with diaphragm) gives good results:9

I'm looking forward to your opinion and to your experience - thank you very much!

RedStethGuy

doutordouglas

I auscultate more with the diaphragm

n/a

Only really use the Diaphragm for a lot of the same reasons as already stated.

FLATxBELLY

The diaphragm for me if I ever do the auscultating, I prefer to be listened to 😉

as for being auscultated i think its more fun with the Diaphragm, specially a cold one pressed into my chest or back. Or my favorite onto my belly making it twitch. I do have to say though the belly can be exciting too. One time I was being examined and the doctor had an old school stethoscope with an actual bell shaped bell on the tip. the was listening to the vessels in my belly and pressed the belly kind of into my navel/right above it to listen to my vena cava.

jacara1500

The sensations are better with the diaphragm... but, I love to auscultate patiens with both to compare.

Twitch90

Diaphragm all the way!

n/a

I definitely love the crisper sound from the diaphragm more from just an interest stand point. Play exam wise I use both since medically speaking the bell will better pick up regurgitation or mummers, not just valve problems. Either way I love stethoscope use in an exam!

liquidsky

For those non physicians who only like to use the diaphragm you are missing all the low pitched sounds which are indicative of ventricular wall dysfunction. The S3 which comes with congestive heart failure and the S4 with a thickened left ventricle with hypertension. The bell must be placed lightly on the chest.

n/a

I love having both used on me. Though the diaphragm is wider, so it feels better on my chest! If I'm the one doing the listening, I definitely make sure to use both the bell and the diaphragm on my patient. Have to be thorough. 😉

Fonendo

As long as they're both cold, I have no preference :-)

scotty95

I prefer the diaphragm, but it has to have a nice ice cold rim on it pressing against my skin. 😃

n/a

Both. Both is always good. They allow for different sounds to be heard.

n/a

Aperture sounds clearer but the bell looks better

n/a

The diaphragm is my call.

n/a

I do love both and I enjoy listening to the different sounds that can be picked up.

stethdr

I enjoy both but prefer diaphragm.

heartbeat1

I think that the bell looks sexier! When I see a picture of someones Heart getting listened to with the bell of the Stethoscope it makes me think that the listener is REALLY listening...checking for murmurs or extra Heart sounds......very hot...much better than some pics where the "doctor" forgets to put the Stethoscope in his ears or something dumb like that.