To the Editor:—

Despite recent and much more sophisticated monitors, the precordial or esophageal stethoscope is considered to be a fundamental monitor in pediatric anesthesia. 1Usually, the earpiece tubing for the stethoscope is attached to the anesthesiologist's clothing by a safety pin. Frequently, adhesive tape is used to affix the safety pin to the tubing. However, as time goes by, adhesive tape deteriorates, and eventually it gets dirty and sticky around the safety pin.

The surgical mask worn in the operating rooms commonly contains a flexible band of metal to secure the mask over the bridge of the nose. The safety pin is affixed to the tubing using this flexible metal band as shown in figure 1.

Fig. 1. A safety pin is affixed to an earpiece tubing by a piece of flexible metal from a surgical mask. 

Fig. 1. A safety pin is affixed to an earpiece tubing by a piece of flexible metal from a surgical mask. 

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1.
Yamashita M: Elastic foamed polymer earplug as a stethoscope earpiece (letter). ANESTHESIOLOGY 1987; 66:447