The Monaural Stethoscope As A Respiratory Therapy Tool

Monitoring of patients under many conditions can materially improve their care and status. But monitoring devices tend to become complicated, expensive, confining, and unwieldy. Often they are not immediately available to the patient; frequently they require professional interpretation. Power sources must be available, or, as with monitoring of central venous pressure, time-consuming manipulations must be made. Wide application of the inexpensive, uncomplicated, and easily interpreted monaural stethoscope would result in better patient care. The previous restriction of its use to the anesthesiologist has given way in our hospital to its use by respiratory therapists. Great advantages can be expected from its further use by ambulance personnel, nurses, aides, and others who care for acutely ill patients.