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Routine heart and lung auscultation in prenatal care
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Witwatersrand, and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Abstract
Objective:
To determine the value of routine heart and lung auscultation (HLA) in pregnant women.
Methods:
Descriptive study by record review of maternal case-files.
Results:
Of 3191 mothers, there were 24 with heart disease (0.8%) and 53 with lung disease (1.7%). On routine HLA, only two new cases of heart disease, both with asymptomatic valvular conditions, were detected, and none of lung disease.
Conclusion:
Routine chest auscultation is of very little value in prenatal care.