Appendix A- Recording Techniques - Cardionics AUSCULETTE II Operator's Manual

8.0 APPENDIX A- RECORDING TECHNIQUES

. The room should be quiet. Most of the problems with recording heart sounds
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result from not having the room quiet.
2. Be sure the filter on the Ausculette II is set properly.
3. The patient should be relaxed as much as possible
4. Be sure the stethoscope cable is not coiled so as to act as an antenna
5. For a thorough examination, the patient should be in a sitting, lying and left
lateral recumbent position. For an adequate examination, the recumbent
position alone can be used, but listening to the heart with the patient only in a
sitting position is absolutely inadequate. Typical diastolic murmurs of good
intensity which are heard when the patient is in the recumbent position may
not be heard at all when the patient is sitting.
In the recumbent position, the patient's arms must not be held over the
head, since this will elevate the rib cage and decrease the intensity of the
heart sound.
Occasionally, it is of advantage to listen with the patient in the prone
position; this may be true in patients with deep chests or those who may
have a friction rub. This position may be awkward when the patient is in bed
or on the examining table and supporting himself/herself on the elbows. It is
much more satisfactory to have the patient stand up and lean over with
his/her elbows on an examining table. Muscle noise is at a minimum in this
position and the patient and examiner are much more comfortable. An
important additional advantage of this position is that the patient can be
made to exercise by touching his toes several times before he assumes the
position.
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