title: Radiostethoscopes: an innovative solution for auscultation while wearing protective gear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate a radiostethoscope that could be modified and successfully used while wearing protective gear to solve the problem of auscultation in a hazardous material or infectious disease setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized, prospective, and blinded investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital Center for Patient Safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two blinded anesthesiologists using a radiostethoscope performed a total of 100 assessments (50 each) to evaluate endotracheal tube position on a human patient simulator (HPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Each lung of the HPS was ventilated separately using a double lumen tube. Four ventilation patterns (ie, right lung ventilation only; left lung ventilation only; ventilation of both lungs; and an esophageal intubation or no breath sounds) were simulated. The ventilation pattern was determined randomly and participants were blinded. An Ambu-Bag was used for ventilation. An assistant moved the radiostethoscope to the right and left lung fields and then to the abdomen of the HPS while ventilating. Subjects had to identify the ventilation pattern after listening to all three locations. A third member of the research team collected responses. Each subject, who wore both types of respirator (positive and negative), performed a total of 25 trials. Participants later compared the two types of respirators and their ability to auscultate for breath sounds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects were able to verify the correct ventilation pattern in all attempts (100 percent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiostethoscopes appear to provide a viable solution for the problem of patient auscultation while wearing protective gear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine, University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Candiotti
authors.forename: Yiliam
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curia
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saltzman
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shekhter
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Birnbach
mesh_terms: D001314:Auscultation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011482:Protective Devices; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D019023:Stethoscopes; D013664:Teaching Materials; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical