Best Cardiology Stethoscope?
The stethoscope to a doctor is like a hammer to a builder. It is a vital tool in the doctor’s bag, allowing for identification of diseases and illness. Increasingly stethoscopes are becoming more specific to different specialties and in this article, I compare two of the leading cardiology stethoscopes to find out which is better — the Littmann Cardiology and the MDF ProCardial stethoscope.
MDF ProCardial Stethoscope
The MDF ProCardial stethoscope is a product of MDF Instruments who also sell other medical equipment such as blood pressure monitors and reflex hammers. The ProCardial is designed for the cardiologist in mind but can also be used for those who may examine patients with heart conditions. Perhaps because the stethoscope is more niche, there are less colour options to choose from than their other stethoscope ranges.
Out of the box, the ProCardial stethoscope comes with the ability to change the chest piece. This is a feature that I have not experienced with a stethoscope in the past which makes it quite unique. The clinician has the ability to toggle between an adult and a paediatric chest piece.
Whilst the idea is novel, practically it may not be logistically possible if you see a variety of patient age groups through the day. It would however, be useful if the clinic was dedicated to adults or children making it easier to transition.
The other factor to bear in mind is to remember to carry both chest pieces with you, however, if you did forget say, the paediatric chest piece, you could still use the adult size.
The tubing of the ProCardial is slightly thicker than the Littmann and MDF boast that this allows better transmission of sound to the ears — something that I did notice to be superior in the MD One.
The stethoscope, like others in the range has a longer tube which seems like a good idea when examining patients whilst maintaining a comfortable distance from an infection control aspect.
Upon examining the diaphragm, it is slightly larger than the Littmann Cardiology IV. The advertising markets the diaphragm as being ‘ultra sensitive’, which will be interesting to see how it performs compared to the Littmann. The bell appears to be the same size, however it is much more concave than the Littmann. To switch between the bell and diaphragm you can simply turn the chest piece and a green marker will show you which side is activated. This is similar to the Littmann Classic III which has a divot to demonstrate this. Both stethoscopes have their logos printed onto the diaphragm, however the MDF logo stands out a little more due to its colour and font.
Comfort
As a doctor who has used a Littmann stethoscope for well over 10 years, I am very used to them. The ear tips are the classic grey colour and are fairly pliable in the ear canal, ensuring comfort. The ProCardial also has pliable ear pieces, however they are clear, allowing you to assess for cleanliness easily before putting the stethoscope on. In terms of comfort, the ProCardial does feel comfortable, although, one issue that I had when using it was that the stethoscope itself, twisted slightly into my ear canal. I inspected the frame for any kinks but was not able to find any. After some slight micro-adjustments, I was able to place it in my ears more comfortably. I noticed a similar issue with the MD One and assume that it may improve with continued use.
Aesthetics
Wearing a stethoscope brings pride to many, it can be viewed as a life achievement and certainly, how the stethoscope ‘looks’ whilst wearing it, is also an important consideration. The Procardial, when placed around the neck hangs slightly longer than the Littmann Cardiology. It is also heavier in weight. This can be both a pro and a con. The increased length may benefit taller people and the weight can be useful for those who are worried that the stethoscope may fall off. However, the weight may also be a hinderance in terms of neck pain if worn for a long period of time.
Performance
Ultimately, the most important aspect of a stethoscope is how it performs. Both stethoscopes were quite comparable with one another. One of the downsides with the Littmann Cardiology was that the battery ran out during my tests so I had to charge it up (this could be quite annoying in the real world. In saying this however, there is still a non-digital option that can be used which was on par with the MDF ProCardial. Once the Littmann was charged up, the sound was clearer than that of the ProCardial. The heart sounded crisper and clearer, perhaps thanks to its digital amplification.
There is however, a substantial monetary difference between the two stethoscopes, so for this reason I would expect the Littmann to perform better. This hypothesis proved to be true but I wouldn’t discount using the MDF ProCardial as it still provided me with clear and very acceptable heart sounds.
Conclusion
The Littmann Cardiology performed better than the MDF ProCardial once the digital amplification was switched on. For the analog mode for both stethoscopes, they were comparable. Both are decent, good quality stethoscopes with slightly different features but provide the clinician with a solid option. What do you think about the stethoscopes ? I would love to hear your thoughts.
I hope that you have found this article helpful.
Take care and stay healthy,
Dr Nora x
Please note that the contents of this article are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or medical condition.
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