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Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
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Abstract Award
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Poster Session 1

Category: Ultrasound/Imaging

Poster Session 1

(342) Variability in Obstetric Ultrasound Time: Influence of Exam Type, BMI, and Sonographer Experience

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Salimah Navaz Gangji, DO (she/her/hers)

    Resident Physician
    Eastern Virginia Medial School at Old Dominion University
    Norfolk, Virginia, United States

    • Submitting Author(s)

  • Juliana Martins, MD

    Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU
    Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States

    • Coauthor(s)

  • DA

    Diana Aboukhater, MD

    University of Toledo Health
    Toledo, Ohio, United States

  • MV

    Maya Vishna, MD

    Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medial School at Old Dominion University
    Norfolk, Virginia, United States

  • Tetsuya Kawakita, MD, MS (he/him/his)

    Associate Professor
    Eastern Virginia Medical School Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
    Norfolk, Virginia, United States

  • AA

    Alfred Abuhamad, MD

    Eastern Virginia Medial School at Old Dominion University
    Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Objective:
To determine the average scan duration of commonly performed obstetric ultrasound exams in a tertiary maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) unit and assess whether maternal body mass index (BMI) and sonographer experience influence scan time

Study Design:
This retrospective cohort included diagnostic obstetric ultrasounds performed at a single academic MFM unit from 2023–2024. Exams were grouped by clinical indication and gestational age: dating (6–10 weeks), first trimester (11–14 weeks), anatomy (18–22 weeks), fetal echocardiogram (22–24 weeks), and second/third trimester growth/Doppler scans (24–38 weeks). Scan duration was derived from image time-stamps and log-transformed. Linear regression estimated adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMRs).

Results:
Among 891 scans (Dating: 48; First trimester: 50; Anatomy: 495; Echo: 98; Second/third trimester: 200), median scan time varied widely (Dating: 7.2 min [IQR 5.3–10.1]; First trimester: 18.4 [12.2–22.6]; Anatomy: 29.9 [25.8–35.3]; Echo: 28.2 [22.6–37.2]; Second/Third trimester: 12.6 [10.0–17.3]). Compared to dating scans, adjusted scan time was 2.22× longer for first trimester (95% CI 1.85–2.66), 3.98× for anatomy (95% CI 3.48–4.55), 4.41× for echo (95% CI 3.77–5.16), and 1.72× for second/third trimester (95% CI 1.49–1.97), all p< 0.001. BMI independently prolonged scan time by 2% per 5-unit increase (GMR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, p=0.025). Multiple gestations were associated with 42% longer duration (GMR 1.42, 95% CI 1.19–1.70, p< 0.001). Compared to sonographers with < 5 years of experience, those with 5–9 years and ≥10 years had 21% (GMR 0.79, 95% CI 0.71–0.88) and 19% (GMR 0.81, 95% CI 0.76–0.86) shorter exam times, respectively (both p< 0.001). For fetal echocardiograms, scan time decreased 6.5% per additional year of experience (p< 0.001).

Conclusion:
Obstetric ultrasound scan time varies substantially by exam type and is independently influenced by maternal BMI and sonographer experience. Incorporating these factors into scheduling models may enhance workflow and reduce staff burden in high-volume MFM units.