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
During a laminectomy, disk material is removed with a
pituitary rongeur
When positioning a patient for lithotomy, care should be taken to avoid injury of the peroneal nerve, which can cause injury to the
hip
Which of the following is the name of the MOST common BI used for ethylene oxide sterilization?
Bacillus atrophaeus
Apart from trauma cases, which of the following incisions would be BEST for sigmoid surgery?
vertical paramediian
Which of the following suturing techniques features short lateral stitches that are taken beneath the epithelial layer of skin?
subcuticular
Which of the following reflexes involves plantar flexion of the foot?
Achilles
In which of the following procedures should the ST expect to use cottonoids?
lumbar laminectomy
Which of the following advantages do hand-held retractors have over self-retaining retractors?
repositioning ability
A ST is preparing a fresh specimen for frozen section to be passed off the field. How should the specimen be prepared to be passed to the circulator?
wrap it in a Telfa pad
Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to remove a carcinoma from the head of the pancreas?
Whipple
The only true indicator of item sterility is
biological
A #12 knife blade on a #7 handle is MOST commonly used for which of the following types of surgery?
tonsillectomy
Which of the following terms refers to the transfer of heat from one substance to another by the natural movement of molecules, setting other molecules in motion?
conduction
Which of the following important considerations should be taken by the ST when it comes to the suture material for third intention closure?
a low-capillary action suture will not retain moisture
The parathyroid gland regulates
calcium
A pad-like sac or cavity that prevents friction within a joint is known as a
bursa
Which of the following staplers should be used for low anterior intestinal resection?
EEA
Which of the following is the name of the avascular strip of tissue at the midline which runs from the xiphoid process to the pubis?
linea alba
A wound that has regrowth of damaged blood vessels and synthesizes scar tissue is in which of the following wound healing phases?
migratory
When cleaning instruments, the PH of the water that should be used is
7.0
PH levels below 7.0 are acidic and could damage instruments
Which of the following is a heavy, curved, tapered needle?
Mayo
The Mayo is a heavy, curved, tapered needle used for general closure
Once a procedure has concluded, the proper order to remove personal protective equipment is
gown, gloves, and then mask
Which of the following is the name of the incision made in a simple open nephrectomy?
subcostal flank
An excised lipoma was filled with non-purulent serosanguineous fluid. Which of the following should be documented as the wound classification for this procedure?
contaminated
Which of the following medications is the anesthesia provider responsible for recording the name, amount, and delivery method during a surgical procedure?
Propofol
Which of the following can prevent thrombophlebitis in a patient who is considered bariatric?
sequential compression device
Which of the following staplers is used to divide blood vessels?
LDS
EEA (end to end anastomosis) stapler performs end-to-end intestinal resection and anastomosis.
Ligating-dividing stapler (LDS) ligates and divides blood vessels.
Gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA) stapler is used for linear side-to-side and end-to-side anastomosis.
Transverse anastomosis (TA-60) is non vascular stapler
Which of the following cranial nerves’ nuclei are associated with the medulla?
vagus
Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to
decrease intracranial pressure
Once a ST dons a gown, the cuffs on the are considered unsterile because they are
absorbent and collect moisture
A patient is having a hemolytic reaction. Which of the following actions should the surgical team take FIRST?
Stop the transfusion
Which of the following is a type of emergency that does not require Federal assistance and is MOST likely to occur in a larger city?
mass casualty event
Which of the following instruments is found in a basic laparotomy setup?
Mayo Scissors
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoids during a craniotomy?
bayonet forceps
Bayonet forceps are used as the primary forceps for neurological procedures, and are used to place cottonoids and Gelfoam for hemostasis.
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during a cholecystectomy?
cystic artery and cystic duct
A surgeon requests a patient to be placed into the lithotomy position for the surgical procedure. Which of the following positioning devices must be obtained?
leg stirrups
A patient is in the supine position following a lung resection. Which of the following BEST describes the placement of the collection unit once it is connected to the chest tube?
below the level of the thoracic cavity
Which of the following anatomical structures is located just under the diaphragm in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen?
stomach
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting a suture?
avoiding the knot
The oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells is a function of
hemoglobin
At the start of a surgical procedure, two Forester sponge forceps are clamped to
the end of a drape sheet so the drape ends can be securely weighted down during
C-arm use. At the end of the surgical case, the two Forester sponge forceps are
unclamped by the radiology technician. The surgical technologist should
request that the sponge forceps be placed inside the case cart.
During a procedure, a surgical technologist touches an unsterile item with a sterile glove. The surgical technologist should
change the glove at once.
During an abdominoperineal resection, which of the following stapling devices
should the surgical technologist have available to form an anal pouch from the
ileum?
GIA
In decontamination, the instruments are sticking and difficult to open. To aid in
the process of washing instruments, the surgical technologist should have
used a basin with sterile water on the field to soak and clean instruments
intraoperatively.
While removing peel pack instruments from the sterilizer, a surgical technologist
notices several of the packages have ruptured. The MOST likely cause is that the
air was not evacuated from the pouch
A surgical technologist is explaining the steps of the electrosurgical unit circuit to
a student. The surgical technologist should explain that the electric current is
channeled back to the generator through the
dispersive electrode
When wrapping individual instruments, what is the MOST important sterilization principle?
having and indicator with the instrument
Preparing instrument sets and packages for sterilization requires a label indicating the
sterilization date, sterilizer ID, load number, and preparer’s initials
Which of the following portions of the colon is used as an “end colostomy” following an abdominal perineal resection?
sigmoid
A resectoscope is used in which of the following prostatic approaches?
transurethral
In which of the following situations can a DNR order be continued in an
unconscious patient for a surgical procedure?
The patient’s durable POA requests it be continued
In local anesthesia, which of the following drugs provides the shortest duration of
numbness?
lidocaine
After completion of a procedure, the dispersive electrode is removed and the skin
is examined for
burns
Retention sutures are typically advantageous when a patient is
diabetic
Which of the following surrounds the kidney?
Gerota’s fascia
Heaney clamps are used MOST frequently for which of the following types of
surgery?
hysterectomy
During a peripheral vascular procedure, heparinized saline is used as an irrigant.
The circulating nurse is ready to draw 10,000 units of heparin from a 2-milliliter ampoule to deliver onto the sterile field, but only 5,000 units of heparin is needed. How much heparin, in milliliters, should be delivered to the sterile field?
1 mL
Heparin sodium can come in the form of 10,000 units per 2 milliliters; the
conversion method used would be to divide 10,000 by 2 and X by 2; therefore,
providing a product of 5,000 = 1 or 5,000 units of heparin sodium = 1 ml needed.
The answer would be incorrect if the product was 0.5 ml, 2 ml, or 1.5 ml.
After the surgical gown has been removed and disposed of in the waste container, how should the surgical gloves be removed?
one layer at a time
A major function of the colon is to
absorb water
Which of the following is the MOST efficient way to communicate changes to a surgeon’s preference card to the surgical technologist staff?
If an x-ray cassette must be placed directly against the operative site, it must be
placed in a sterile cassette cover
When steam comes into an autoclave from an outside source, the steam is heated in the
jacket
Which of the following instruments has teeth?
Kocher
Following a hysterectomy, the surgical technologist participates in the debriefing, which includes
Completeness and correction of all counts
A surgeon performing an arterial graft placement on a patient confirms that there
is an occlusion in a portion of the artery, and that it must be removed. The surgeon requests a 3-way stopcock and a 1 milliliter tuberculin syringe. Which of the following items will the surgical technologist also need to be delivered onto
the sterile field for removal of the occlusion?
Fogarty catheter
A surgical “time out” must be performed prior to
making the initial incision
Which of the following classifications of disinfection is used to kill all bacteria, viruses, and fungi?
high-level
Which of the following is true regarding Avitene?
It is a collagen powder that must be kept dry.
During general anesthesia, which of the following complications of vomiting is considered the MOST dangerous?
aspiration
Which of the following types of hernias require urgent surgical treatment?
strangulated
Which of the following is the receiving nerve end of all transmission?
dendrite
Which of the following instruments must be readily available for a modified radical mastectomy?
extra #10 blades
During knee meniscectomy, the surgeon notices bright spots in the picture. Which of the following is the MOST likely problem?
faulty fiber optic cable
After manually removing bioburden from a Westcott scissor, the process to
continue decontamination is called
cavitation
Which of the following terms best describes the formal medical process when
death occurs in surgery and the surgeon and anesthesia care provider must verify
that death has occurred?
determination of death
While opening a back table, the surgical technologist notices a hair in the open
sterile pack. The chemical indicators show that the pack has been properly sterilized. The surgical technologist should
Break down and obtain new equipment.
When inflating a 5-cc balloon on a Foley catheter, which of the following would be the MOST appropriate choice?
8-10 mL of sterile water
The surgical technologist is alarmed by the slurred speech, smell of alcohol, and
disheveled appearance of the surgeon while he dons gown and gloves. The surgical technologist should
request a nurse manager to come to the room.
An Esmarch should be applied to an extremity
distal to the proximal
While preparing a sterile field, a surgical technologist secures the Bovie holster to
the Mayo stand. The surgeon insists on keeping the Bovie attached to the drapes
within reach for ease of access. Which of the following would be the BEST course
of action?
Move Bovie holster up by head of patient.
Which of the following machines in the sterile processing
department uses cavitation for cleaning instruments?
ultrasonic cleaner
Which of the following instrument sets should be added to the general abdominal
set-up when an inguinal hernia is thought to be strangulated?
gastrointestinal
During an intraocular procedure, there is an increase in a patient’s IOP. Which medication should the surgical technologist anticipate being used?
Pilocarpine
Which of the following is an example of a sesamoid bone?
patella
Which of the following is a normal adult white blood cell count?
5,000 to 10,000
Which of the following is the fourth stage of the Kubler-Ross Model?
depression
Which of the following connections do ligaments make?
bone to bone
When using the neutral zone technique, a surgical technologist should
ensure communication is established.
Which of the following categories of symbiosis applies when both organisms benefit from, and depend upon, one another to a certain extent?
mutualism
Once the spinous process is exposed during a laminectomy, the NEXT instrument
needed for the removal of the lamina is a
Kerrison rongeur.
