Medelita + ERKA Stethoscope Review: a Stethoscope for SRNAs and CRNAs
Back in 2012, I was a baby nursing student and a lot of emphasis was placed on which stethoscope you had. I’m sure we all can remember the days leading up to our first clinical rotation, setting out all of our supplies, taking our brand-new, never used stethoscope out of the box and wrapping it around our neck standing in the mirror in awe.
In those days, I got through my long 12-hour clinicals with a lightweight Littmann stethoscope. While it wasn’t a master cardiology or electronic scope, it met my basic needs of being a newbie still attempting to decipher Korotkoff sounds and sibilant rhonchi.
Fast forward to my nights on the cardiovascular intensive care unit where I took care of critically ill patients immediately after open heart surgery. An upgrade was a must, and I settled on a Black and Brass Littmann Cardiology III.
Since my time as a RN, I’ve been using a Littmann Cardiology III or my Littmann Cardiology IV. But as a CRNA in a bustling, loud operating room or ICU during a code, hearing heart and lung sounds can be quite difficult.
As a Medelita HIP Ambassador, I received a complimentary ERKA Sensitive Stethoscope. It’s a hand-crafted, German engineered Stethoscope that has a unique ERKA patented dual diaphragm and dual channel tubes. What does this mean? The sound reaches each ear separately for better transmission of high and low tones while also minimizing any outside noise. That sounded like the perfect stethoscope I needed to confirm placement of the endotracheal tube after I intubated my patients.
I swapped out my Littmann Cardiology IV, to give the ERKA Sensitive Stethoscope a try and it did not disappoint!
DESIGN
The ERKA Sensitive Stethoscope is super sleek with a polished pore-free chromed brass chest piece. This is a must because it makes this stethoscope more resistant to germs and bacteria. On the other side, the dual membrane is clear with the red ERKA heart logo.
The ear tips are soft and the binurals (the two long pieces that attach to the tubing) are inclined at a standard 15 degrees with the ability to adjust them for comfort.
I found that it’s absolutely necessary to adjust the binurals — if you don’t get a good seal, the stethoscope sound definitely suffers.
The ERKA Sensitive Stethoscope is available in five colors: Red, Dark Gray, Rose Pink, Light Gray and Black, so there’s a sleek elegant color for you. I opted for the Dark Gray — I normally go with black, so I’m making progress in adding more color to my wardrobe!
The stethoscope also comes with a slim carrying case and an extra pair of ear tips.
USE
I’ve been using this stethoscope for the past 3-4 weeks. Pre-operatively, I can clearly hear my patient’s lung and heart sounds. Even those that have been diagnosed with a “slight” murmur, this stethoscope allows me to pick it up.
Now, in the operating room during induction, I was surprised at how well the stethoscope blocked out the noise of the suction and operating room chatter, allowing me to listen for bilateral breath sounds and confirm the depth of the breathing tube I just placed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, this stethoscope is clearly made from great quality materials and provides optimal listening conditions in and outside of the operating room. My only gripe about this stethoscope is although it is fairly light, after wearing it around your neck for a double shift, it does tend to feel quite heavy. The outer material of the tubing can also feel tacky. I found myself putting it around the collar of my jacket or lab coat so that it wouldn’t rub on my neck.
GET ONE TODAY
The ERKA Sensitive Stethoscope compares to the Littmann Master Cardiology and retails for $178. Medelita always offers free shipping and returns within 30 days, as well as a 365-day warranty. If you register with ERKA, you’ll get an extra 5-year warranty through their XXL-Guarantee!