indpndntrd
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Not sure if this is the appropriate place for this thread. I've read several related threads on the forum and also searched online. I am a relatively new EMT and would like your input about LS on more "difficult" patients.
Before auscultating, I always ask the patient to take deep breaths nice and slow with their mouth open. Not commonly, but I find that some of the older patients will not be able to take deep breaths. Instead, they will breathe at a moderate rate (~20) but not "deep." I hardly can hear anything from any of the fields. Even without breathing deeply, I can hear LS just fine on a young healthy person. Tips?
Second, just as it can be difficult to auscultate LS on an obese patient, I find it hard to listen on a "malnourished pt." I had a very thin pt recently and I could basically see the outline of each of his ribs. This did not result in very good sound quality. Tips?
Lastly, for the folk working BLS IFT, how many fields do you listen to? Do you have the patient sit upright if possible? I find that the front uppers and lowers tend to be enough but I wanted to know if it is standard practice to listen to midaxilliary and posterior fields as well.
Much appreciated,
Newbie
Before auscultating, I always ask the patient to take deep breaths nice and slow with their mouth open. Not commonly, but I find that some of the older patients will not be able to take deep breaths. Instead, they will breathe at a moderate rate (~20) but not "deep." I hardly can hear anything from any of the fields. Even without breathing deeply, I can hear LS just fine on a young healthy person. Tips?
Second, just as it can be difficult to auscultate LS on an obese patient, I find it hard to listen on a "malnourished pt." I had a very thin pt recently and I could basically see the outline of each of his ribs. This did not result in very good sound quality. Tips?
Lastly, for the folk working BLS IFT, how many fields do you listen to? Do you have the patient sit upright if possible? I find that the front uppers and lowers tend to be enough but I wanted to know if it is standard practice to listen to midaxilliary and posterior fields as well.
Much appreciated,
Newbie