CST Study Guide Flashcards
Which of the following is considered the MOST important skill for a surgical technologist?
management of specimens
The surgical incision that allows for the BEST visualization for a Billroth I procedure is
midline
During the postoperative phase, the personnel primarily responsible for transporting soiled instrumentation to decontamination is the
surgical technologist
CSF is formed in the lateral ventricles of a patient and may not properly flow into the third ventricle through the foramen of
Sylvius into the fourth ventricle
During an excisional biopsy of sentinel nodes, the surgical technologist should prepare specimens using which of the following methods?
Place in separate containers and identify
A surgical technologist received the following medications onto the sterile field: 0.9% sodium chloride, bacitracin 1 gm, and 0.25% Marcaine with epinephrine. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to label these medications?
0.9% saline+1gm bacitracin and 0.25% Marcaine with epinephrine
A thyroidectomy that was done earlier in the day is being brought back for excessive bleeding from the incision. Which of the following items are needed for this case?
laps, silk ties, and hemoclips
If there is any question related to handling a specific type of specimen, which of the following departments should be consulted?
pathology
The required number of air exchanges per hour in an OR is
15 to 25
A special-made instrument without a backup fails to the floor during a procedure. Which of the following is the BEST reason to hesitate performing immediate-use sterilization?
The manufacturer’s standards for sterilizing the instrument are unknown
When transferring a thoracotomy patient to recovery, the chest drainage system should be
maintained below the patient’s chest level
Which of the following procedures requires an incision in the suprasternal notch?
mediastinoscopy
When preparing surgical specimens, in addition to the surgical technologist, who else is responsible for accurately labeling the specimen?
surgeon and circulating nurse
A T-tube drain may be used following
a choledochotomy
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist places the staples through which two layers?
cuticular and subcuticular
A type of regional anesthesia in which a tourniquet is applied and local anesthetic is administered intravenously is called a
Bier block
During a craniotomy, which of the following types of bone is entered?
flat
A physician prescribed 50 milligrams of Demerol. The Demerol is supplied in 100 mg/mL. How many mL of Demerol should be given?
0.5 mL
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used during a posterior cervical decompression?
Mayfield clamp
Which of the following is the MOST acceptable technique when placing a patient in the lithotomy position?
both legs placed in stirrups simultaneously
Which of the following supplies should the surgical technologist have available for placement of a long arm cast?
Webril
How much 0.25% bupivacaine should be mixed with 1 mL of 1.0% lidocaine to make the solution equal strengths of both medications?
4.0 mL
The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the following types of sutures?
purse-string
A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a right hemicolectomy. Which of the following BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure?
to aide visual inspection for leakage
Which of the following devices should the surgical technologist have delivered to the sterile field for a low anterior resection?
intraluminal stapler
Which of the following is reshaped during a total hip arthroplasty?
acetabulum
An organization that regulates the production of biological sterilization test packs in-house is
AAMI
Rod-shaped bacteria are called
bacilli
A type of passive transport when salt crystals dissolve in water is known as
diffusion
Utilization of lasers in the operating room requires the use of
eye protection
During application of a Volar splint, the surgical technologist notices that the splint was not completely dried and has caused a pressure point on the patient. Which of the following should be the surgical technologist’s NEXT step?
Bring it to the surgeon’s attention and assist in putting on a new splint
Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has begun should be counted by the
surgical technologist and the circulator
Which of the following spore-forming microorganisms are used as biological monitors for checking steam sterilization effectiveness for a load of instruments in a rigid container?
Bacillus stearothermophilus
After surgery, the scrub tech takes the instruments used in surgery to the decontamination area. How soon should these instruments be washed?
within 20 minutes
Which of the following types of laser is typically used for stone fragmentation in the ureter?
holmium: YAG
If a patient is undergoing a mastectomy immediately followed by reconstruction, how many surgical setups should be obtained?
Two; the reconstruction will immediately follow the mastectomy, but a second set of instruments should be used to prevent seeding
Which of the following instruments is used to thread a vascular graft from one incision to another?
tunneler
A patient has developed a hematoma at the incision site after the surgeon has left the room. The ST should
request the surgeon return
The ST hands the surgeon the dressing at the end of a procedure. Which of the following is the BEST method to follow in regard to removing the drape?
A sterile team member holds the dressing in place while the drape is removed
Following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon has just closed the peritoneum. Which of the following layers will be sutured NEXT?
fascia
Which of the following arteries is commonly used for taking a blood pressure reading
brachial
Which of the following is applied as a non adherent dressing?
Adaptic
When donning gloves using the open-gloving technique, the ungloved hand will touch the
folded edge of the cuff of the glove
Necrotizing fasciitis confined to the perineum and scrotum is known as
Fournier’s gangrene
Where is the gastrocnemius muscle located?
calf
For a splenectomy procedure, which of the following clamps should be used?
Satinsky
A cystectomy with ileal conduit procedure was performed. The surgical technologist anticipates the need for a stoma
pouch to collect body fluids
IUSS sterilizers are typically located in an area
that is designated as a restricted sub-sterile room
Which of the following surgical needles is MOST appropriate for use in a liver resection?
blunt
To help in the calculation of the amount of blood loss, the ST should
report the amount of irrigation used
During dilation and curettage, after the Auvard weighted vaginal speculums placed, which of the following instruments is used to grasp the cervix?
single tooth tenaculum
Which of the following is the MOST accurate method to check steam autoclave effectiveness?
biological indicator
Following a surgical procedure, which of the following is the BEST sequence of actions for a ST to take?
Remove sterile drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of unsterile gloves to aid in the care of the patient.
Which of the following will place a staff member at risk for work related musculoskeletal disorders?
working in the same posture for prolonged periods
While setting up for a surgical procedure, a ST discovers a puncture in the right surgical glove. If no one is available to assist, the BEST solution for the ST is to
ask the circulator for a new gown and gloves to regown and reglove
During the application of arch bars, the surgeon will MOST likely use which of the following between the teeth and around the bar?
24-or 26-gauge stainless steel wire
Which of the following is necessary for ethylene oxide sterilization to occur?
humidity
Which of the following is the correct skin preparation for a female patient undergoing a right mastectomy with possible axillary dissection?
shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest to the table line, and to the left shoulder
Which of the following is done FIRST when performing a myringotomy?
removing a cerumen from the ear canal