Routine heart and lung auscultation in prenatal care

Objective: To determine the value of routine heart and lung auscultation (H LA) in pregnant women. Methods: Descriptive study by record review of mater nal case-files. Results: Of 3191 mothers, there were 24 with heart disease (0.8%) and 53 with lung disease (1.7%). On routine KLA, 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 ve ry little value in prenatal care. (C) 1999 International Federation of Gyne cology and Obstetrics.