Time requirements for intraoperative neurosonography.

The time requirements needed for radiologists to perform intraoperative neurosonography were analyzed. Eighty-five consecutive intracranial and spinal operative procedures were prospectively monitored, and it was found that the average length of time spent in the operating room by the radiologist was 1 hr in spinal cases and 52 min in intracranial cases; the wide range of time spent in each case depended on the complexities of the operation; only one-fifth of the radiologist's time in the operating room was spent performing the study and interpreting the sonograms; and 24% of cases were either emergencies or were performed after normal working hours. It may be helpful to take these factors into consideration when there are plans to offer the service of intraoperative neurosonography.