Impact of 3D sonography on workroom time efficiency

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on workroom time efficiency of the 3D sonographic technique compared with the 2D technique in examinations of the kidney, shoulder, small parts (thyroid, testes, Achilles tendon, other superficial structures), and female pelvic organs in a community hospital.

A random sample of 23 patients underwent consecutive 3D sonographic examinations on a single day. Another random sample of 40 patients underwent consecutive traditional 2D sonographic examinations the next day. Both cohorts included a mixture of patients who underwent shoulder, renal, small-parts, and pelvic scans. The 3D shoulder examinations were followed by direct examination by a radiologist using the traditional 2D technique to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of the 3D technique. The mean times that patients were in the sonography room for 2D and for 3D sonography were recorded and compared by use of a two-sample Student's t test.

The mean time per examination for the 3D cohort was 11.48 +/- 3.55 minutes (SD). The mean time per examination for the 2D cohort was 25.30 +/- 11.64 minutes. Results of a two-sample Student's t test showed the times for the two groups were statistically different (p < 0.001). No diagnoses made with 3D shoulder sonographic findings were changed when the shoulders were reevaluated directly by radiologists using conventional 2D sonography.

This study showed significantly better workroom time efficiency with use of 3D sonography than with traditional 2D sonography in pelvic, renal, small-parts, and shoulder examinations in a community hospital. These findings suggest that in the correct clinical setting, adopting 3D scanning protocols may greatly improve patient throughput.