Breathe Out for Better Bruit Detection

If elderly patients or those withchronic lung disease have troubleholding their breath in while you tryto listen for carotid bruits, have themtake a deep breath, exhale, and holdtheir breath out. Many patients find iteasier to hold their breath at the endof an exhalation than at the end of aninhalation. This approach results ina quicker and easier carotid auscultationwith far fewer adventitial sounds.-- Larry Mathers, MD
   Newport, Tenn