Transthoracic Echocardiography Real-Life workload: A Cross-Sectional Field Study
Keywords:
Transthoracic Echocardiography, Procedure Time, Image Quality, Technician Experience, BMI, Outpatient Workflow.Abstract
Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging modality for assessing cardiac structure and function. While its diagnostic value is well established, limited research has investigated the expected duration of outpatient adult TTE procedures in real-world settings.
Objective: To estimate the average duration of adult TTE examinations in an outpatient clinic and identify key factors influencing scan time.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Hail Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia, including 100 adult outpatients. Data collected included demographic variables (age, sex, and BMI), clinical history, technician experience, image quality, and scan start/end times. The primary outcome was total scan duration in minutes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS.
Results: The average scan duration was 32.5 ± 7.8 minutes. Increased BMI, lower image quality, and less technician experience were associated with longer scan durations (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed based on age, sex, or device type.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that a realistic expectation for outpatient TTE duration is approximately 32.5 minutes per scan. Institutions should consider scheduling approximately 12 to 13 scans per technician per 8-hour shift, accounting for breaks and quality standards. Factors such as BMI, image quality, and technician expertise should guide workload distribution.
