Intraoperative digital specimen mammography: a significant improvement in operative efficiency.

BACKGROUND The goal of this study was to determine the length of operative time and its effect on surgeon productivity with the use of intraoperative digital specimen mammography (IDSM) compared to standard specimen mammography (SSM). METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed on 344 consecutive patients from a single breast surgeon from 2003 to 2010. Operative time was compared between procedures using SSM vs IDSM. Surgeon productivity was evaluated by the number of wire-localized excisions performed prior to and after implementation of IDSM. RESULTS Two hundred thirty patients underwent SSM and 114 underwent IDSM. Average operative time in the SSM group was 78 minutes vs 68 minutes in the IDSM group (P < .0001). In the first 2 years after implementation of IDSM, the number of wire-localized excisions performed increased by 20%. CONCLUSIONS Operative times were significantly shorter with the use of IDSM vs SSM, and this was associated with an increase in surgeon productivity.