Consistency of Interpretation of Lung Sounds between Experienced Physicians and Automatic Analysis Using a Newly Developed Algorithm Based on the Acoustic Characteristics
Journal Title: Pulmonary Research and Respiratory Medicine – Open Journal - Year 2017, Vol 0, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Listening and interpreting lung sounds by a stethoscope has been an important component of screening and diagnosing lung diseases. However, this practice is vulnerable to inter-observer variations and difficulty in comparison with previous findings. In this study, we aimed to examine the consistency of interpretation of lung sounds between experienced physicians and automatic analysis using a newly developed algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics. Methods: In 39 patients with various respiratory diseases, lung sounds were recorded with a stethoscope microphone on the chest. We compared 1) evaluation of live lung sounds by the attending physician, 2) evaluation of recorded lung sounds by the attending physician, 3) evaluation of recorded lung sounds by other physicians who were blinded to the underlying diseases, and 4) results of automatic analysis using a newly developed algorithm based on the acoustic characteristics. Results: Among the lung sounds recorded, fine crackles were identified in 18 patients, coarse crackles in 5, and wheezes in 4. In 36(92%) patients, the interpretation of live lung sounds by the attending physician was consistent with that of recorded lung sounds by the same physician. In 23(59%) patients, the interpretation of recorded lung sounds by the attending physician agreed with that by other physicians. In 63% of the lung sounds with any inconsistency of interpretation, the consensus interpretation was same as the original interpretation by the attending physician. Automatic analysis and physicians’ diagnosis agreed in 62% of the study subjects. Conclusions: Repeated hearing of recorded lung sounds may exceed live auscultation in a clinic. Recording and analyzing lung sounds may contribute to further improvement of auscultation.ABBREVIATIONS: COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; UIP: Usual Interstitial Pneumonia.
Authors and Affiliations
Sadatomo Tasaka
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP560118
- DOI 10.17140/PRRMOJ-SE-1-103
- Views 101
- Downloads 0
Significance of Molecular Genotyping for Lung Cancer in Modern Oncology
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent life-threatening diseases and remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although surgical resection of the tumor is considered as one of the most effective trea...
Modern Technology in Respiratory Medicine: Lung Ultrasonography–Is it Time for the Stethoscope to Give Up its Throne?
The year 2016 marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of the stethoscope by Dr. Réne Théophile Hyacinthe Laennec. He was first inspired in September 1816 when he observed 2 children playing with a long piece of soli...
PM10 Emitted from Gravel Crushers and their Effects on Complete Blood Counts for Workers, Middle Governorate – Gaza, Palestine
Case-control study was conducted during the period from April to August, 2013 on all gravel crushers at Middle Gaza Governorates. There were 87 individuals participants invloved in this study, out of which 40 were case (...
Diaphragm Ultrasonography as a Tool To Assess the Respiratory Issues of a Patient With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
A 73-year-old woman with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) presented at a universityaffiliated community hospital with increasing shortness of breath. She was diagnosed with ALS 2 years prior to this event, and she had...
A Diagnostic Tool Yet Simple and Strong: Inspection of the Jugular Veins
Inspection of the neck, including the inspection of veins is taught at most of the medical schools as a routine step of physical examination. However, rarely we see students assess findings in a correct fashion, or even...