Spectral analysis of bruits with an electronic stethoscope enhances screening of carotid stenosis and plaques beyond conventional auscultation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with carotid stenosis being a primary contributor. Therefore, stroke prevention would benefit from accessible carotid stenosis screening tools. Historically, acoustic stethoscopes were used to listen to the carotid artery, but this method is now outdated due to its subjectivity and inconsistent sensitivity and specificity in detecting stenosis. In contrast, electronic stethoscopes record audio, enabling precise and objective analysis. To overcome traditional auscultation limitations, our study introduces a signal analysis scheme to evaluate the electronic stethoscope as a potential screening tool for carotid plaques and severe stenosis.

Methods

We included 94 patients undergoing duplex ultrasound (DUS) for rec

SUBMITTER: Malik AEF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12592010 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature