Digital stethoscope as an innovative tool on the teaching of auscultatory skills.

Physical cardiovascular examination, particularly cardiac auscultation, is one of the most difficult clinical skills for students during their medical training. Studies suggest that the use of technologies such as digital stethoscope increase the accuracy of clinical examination, however, its impact on the teaching of cardiac auscultation for undergraduate students of medicine is not known. The objective is to demonstrate the usefulness of the digital stethoscope compared to traditional methods as a tool in the teaching of auscultatory skills.

Analysis of mortality and hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases in Niterói, between 1998 and 2007.

Background: The reduction in mortality from cardiovascular disease has been observed in Brazil for years, attributed to a fall in risk factors, improved treatment and reduced hospital mortality.

Objective: To compare the mortality, the rate of hospitalization and hospital mortality in hospitals belonging to the Brazilian Public Health System, for ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) and heart failure (HF), in Niterói, between 1998 and 2007.

Methods: We used the number of deaths and hospitalizations and mortality of residents in Niterói for Chapter IX of ICD10 and specific causes available in Datasus, in population aged 30 and older.