IS IT POSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSE ATRIAL FIBRILLATION BY AUSCULTATION?
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This is a very tricky study: Most veterinarians are convinced to be able to diagnose atrial fibrillation by auscultation. In this study, a variety of persons were tested - board-certified specialists, medicine residents, experienced nurses, surgery residents and students. The results are very surprising: Only 30% of all test subjects provided accurate heart rate estimates!
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The accuracy of heart rate estimation by cardiac auscultation over a 15-second period, and the influence of clinical experience on accuracy were evaluated in a dog with chronic atrial fibrillation by test subjects of varying experience.
Only 30% of all test subjects provided accurate heart rate estimates.
Board-certified specialists, medicine residents, and experienced nurses were significantly more accurate in their estimates than surgery residents and students.
Accurate estimates were provided by 12.5% of surgery residents and students, as opposed to 64% of the other test subjects.
Auscultatory estimates of heart rate in atrial fibrillation may be significantly inaccurate, and under some circumstances they may not provide a sound basis for making clinical decisions.
Source: Tony M. Glaus, Michael Hässig, Bruce W. Keene (2003): Accuracy of Heart Rate Obtained by Auscultation in Atrial Fibrillation. In: Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 39:237-239 (2003)
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