Wheeze detection in the pediatric intensive care unit: comparison among physician, nurses, respiratory therapists, and a computerized respiratory sound monitor.

Objective: To correlate wheeze detection in the pediatric intensive care unit among staff members (a physician, nurses, and respiratory therapists [RTs]) and digital recordings from a computerized respiratory sound monitor (PulmoTrack).

Methods: We prospectively studied 11 patients in the pediatric intensive care unit. A physician, nurses, and RTs auscultated the patients and recorded their opinions about the presence of wheeze at baseline and then every hour for 6 hours.