Auscultation in the diagnosis of respiratory disease in the 21st century

Abstract

Given this rather negative appraisal of the value of lung sounds, and the easy access to imaging and lung function, it might be concluded that auscultation should be abandoned. However, this would be a mistake- investigations are not always to hand, particularly in primary care and the developing world. Auscultation is very cheap and can provide valuable information as part of an overall assessment and even on its own, provided that its limitations are understood. Auscultation in the 21st century is little changed from the last century, although the terminology is simpler. It should continue to be taught and practised. Sophisticated methods of recording lung sounds are unlikely to enter the clinical arena in the near future.