In flight auscultation: comparison of electronic and conventional stethoscopes.

Objectives: The ability to auscultate during air medical transport is compromised by high ambient noise levels. The aim of this study was to assess the capabilities of a traditional and an amplified stethoscope (which is expected to reduce background and ambient noise) to assess heart and breath sounds during medical transport in a Falcon 50 plane.

Methods: A prospective, double-blind, randomized study was performed.