Neonatal stethoscopes are the perfect tool for the examination of infant patients.
Stethoscopes are more than just rubber or metal; they serve several essential functions in the healthcare field. As a result, practitioners should use the appropriate stethoscope for the specific patient.
There are different kinds of stethoscopes for different types of patients, so it is crucial to understand their functioning and features before purchasing.
However, today, in this article, I would like to review the neonatal stethoscope and explain what separates it from other stethoscopes.
Neonatal Stethoscope?
The neonatal stethoscope is one of the main types of stethoscopes. A newborn patient’s diagnosis and physical evaluation are conducted using this stethoscope. Because of its small diaphragm, it can perform auscultation on infants without missing any sound.
The device’s small diameter allows it to perform auscultations with high accuracy even in turbulent environments. Stethoscopes with this construction don’t have latex, preventing allergic reactions. Furthermore, the rings come with the non-chill feature.
Because of its size, the device would allow a more accurate diagnosis in a shorter period of time.
How to Auscultate Infant’s Sounds With a Neonatal Stethoscope?
A challenging aspect of evaluating infant respiratory health is assessing their respiratory function. In addition, to thoroughly assess the child in complete physical condition, the nurse must adapt her techniques based on the child’s developmental level and age.
It is likely to improve the quality of the assessment if the environment is quiet, clean, and comfortable. However, in very young children, hypothermia is a possible complication, and additional warmth may be required.
What Is the Difference Between a Neonatal Stethoscope and a Pediatric Stethoscope?
Perhaps you are wondering whether this stethoscope differs from the Littmann Pediatric Stethoscope? Well, they have a bit of difference in the size of the chest piece. By comparison, the diaphragm diameter of the infant version is 2.7 cm, while that of the pediatric version is 3.3 cm.
There has been much feedback from users that this decrease in diaphragm size enhances hearing in premature babies and infants compared to pediatrics.
How to Clean a Neonatal Stethoscope?
After each examination, wipe the stethoscope with a cloth soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol (or a disposable cloth in soap and water). It is possible to disinfect the stethoscope with a chlorine solution (2%) but be careful, as the ear tubes may discolor after using this solution.
You may remove the ear tips, the adjustable and elastic diaphragms, as well as the elastic band around the chest piece for thorough cleaning.
What is the Best Neonatal Stethoscope on the Market?
This infant stethoscope from Littmann is a great option when it comes to infant stethoscopes. Littmann Infant Stethoscopes are designed mainly for premature babies and infants.
Constructed With High-Quality Materials
There are many infant stethoscopes out there, but this is one of the most highly recommended. With its two-sided chest piece, which is very small, it fits the baby’s chest perfectly. There is a tunable diaphragm on one side, while there is an open bell on the other.
In addition, the tube is made with next-generation materials, meaning it has no natural rubber latex, which is excellent for patients who are allergic to latex.
Accurate diagnosis
The sound quality of the device is incredible. In particular, I’d like to highlight how the chest piece helps to focus on what you’re assessing.
Beginner medical students may have difficulties listening for lung sounds and may confuse heartbeats and bowel sounds when they use a regular or pediatric stethoscope.
Nevertheless, when using this stethoscope, they are all shocked to hear only lung sounds if they assess for the presence of lung sounds. This is because the diaphragm is small in diameter.
Acoustic Clarity
There is a bell on one side of the Classic II Infant Stethoscope. It is possible to hear and distinguish both low-frequency and high-frequency sounds in this manner. As a result, you won’t have any trouble hearing babies’ breathing sounds, heartbeats, or bowel conditions.
Appropriate Tube Length
The neonatal stethoscope tube measures 28 inches in length. Having this tube length to diagnose a baby is a good feature. It’s not too short. While using it, make sure you do not bend or strain it too much.
Weight
As compared to regular stethoscopes, this stethoscope weighs only 3.4 ounces (0.13 kg). So if you have a neck injury or are often bothered by headaches from carrying it around your neck, wearing this one will not cause you any problems. In addition, infants will not feel any discomfort during examination.
Ear Tips
The Littmann Stethoscope includes the three ear tip pieces that are standard for that brand. It is included with the soft seal-off rubber tips. Therefore, these provide an excellent seal for reducing ambient noise (after all, a crying baby will not be quiet).
3-Year Warranty
The device comes with a 3-year warranty. The tube gets scratched and dragged, according to a few reviewers. In this case, you can obtain Littmann infant stethoscope parts online when needed. Despite this, not many complaints have been caught regarding replacement parts.
Two Color Choices
Two types of chest pieces are available for this device. They have machined stainless steel and rainbow. Moreover, Littman comes in five neonatal stethoscope colors: orange, peach, raspberry, Caribbean blue, red, royal blue, and black. There is nothing quite like the Littmann Infant Stethoscope Rainbow style.
Final words
Both doctors and students use neonatal stethoscopes to assess and diagnose infant heart, lungs, and other body sounds.
It is also a good choice for those in veterinary practices who work with small animals. It is not necessary to have a neonatal stethoscope if you work with adults or older children. There are no worries about acoustic capabilities. Practitioners rave about the clean, crisp sound that they hear when they use a neonatal stethoscope on infants.
In addition, the neonatal stethoscope from Littman is an excellent stethoscope for nurses and practitioners who work with premature babies and infants. It is recommended as the best tool for infants.
