Factors Influencing Examination Duration During Routine Second‐Trimester Morphology Ultrasound: A 5‐Year Retrospective Review

Background Routine second‐trimester morphology ultrasound is a complex examination requiring detailed assessment of fetal anatomy and maternal structures. The impact of trainee involvement and transvaginal (TV) imaging on morphology ultrasound examination duration has not been well described. Aim To determine the impact of trainee sonographer involvement and TV imaging on morphology ultrasound examination duration. Methods A retrospective review of routine singleton 18–22‐week morphology ultrasound examinations performed between 2021 and 2025 across a large metropolitan health service was undertaken. Examination duration was calculated from the first to last stored ultrasound image during a single scanning episode. Cases were classified by trainee involvement and TV imaging. Results A total of 1976 examinations were included. Mean examination duration remained stable throughout the study period (52.3–53.9 min). Trainee involvement occurred in 11.9% of examinations and TV imaging in 28.7%. Qualified sonographer examinations without TV imaging had a mean duration of 47.6 min, compared with 66.2 min for examination involving trainee sonographers (+18.6 min) and 58.3 min for examination performed by qualified sonographers with TV imaging (+10.7 min). The longest examinations occurred when both trainee involvement and TV imaging were present (74.5 min). TV utilisation increased from 27.2% in 2021 to 41.6% in 2025, while trainee sonographer involvement also varied across the study period. Conclusion Trainee involvement and TV imaging increased morphology examination duration, although overall departmental examination duration remained stable. These findings may assist workforce planning and appointment allocation.