Minor Surgical Procedures

Question 1

abrasion

Answer 1

outer layers of skin scraped off, resulting in a small amount of sanguineous or serosanguineous drainage, such as a “skinned” knee

Question 2

contusion

Answer 2

bleeding below unbroken skin caused by blunt trauma; a bruise

Question 3

cryosurgery

Answer 3

a method of destroying tissue by freezing (cryogenics) using liquid nitrogen applied from a tank with a gauge and removable hand pieces, or other cryo materials requiring sample spray canisters

Question 4

curettes

Answer 4

sharp or smooth spoon-shaped instruments used to scape tissue or other substances from a body orifice or organ; most common are ear and uterine

Question 5

dilators

Answer 5

solid instruments used to stretch or widen the opening to an anatomic structure (uterine, urethral sounds)

Question 6

electrosurgery

Answer 6

a method of dissection or cauterization using an electric current directed to a specific anatomic area to cut, destroy, or coagulate

Question 7

endoscope

Answer 7

special instrument used to examine the interior of canals and hollow viscus; design and name are dependent on the organ; it usually contains fiber-optic technology allowing lighting, video transmission, and other technologic procedures

Question 8

forceps

Answer 8

a two-handled instrument used to grasp, move, or crimp tissue

Question 9

hemostat

Answer 9

sometimes referred to as forceps, straight or curved instrument used to compress capillaries and other blood vessels to stop bleeding: (hemostasis) also referred to as a clamp or Crile

Question 10

incision

Answer 10

a smooth cut as in surgery or as made with a razor

Question 11

laceration

Answer 11

a jagged traumatic cut resulting in irregular wound edges

Question 12

laser surgery

Answer 12

a method using high concentrations of electromagnetic radiation in narrow beams for surgical and diagnostic applications

Question 13

needle holder

Answer 13

a two-handled instrument that clasps a needle, allowing the physician to push and pull the needle with suture material through various anatomic structures

Question 14

probe

Answer 14

a straight instrument with ends of various shapes; used primarily to explore patency of ducts, canals, and other anatomic structures

Question 15

puncture

Answer 15

a hole in the skin made by a sharp pointed object

Question 16

retractors

Answer 16

instruments of various shapes used to hold back tissue and organs to facilitate exposure to the operative state

Question 17

scalpels

Answer 17

knives with various blade shapes and sizes, used to make surgical incisions

Question 18

sound

Answer 18

a straight or curved instrument used to explore body cavities for measurement of depth and presence of masses or foreign bodies

Question 19

suture-removal scissors

Answer 19

scissors with a hook toward the distal end of one blade to get under sutures and safely snip during suture removal

Question 20

suture scissors

Answer 20

straight-bladed scissors used to cut suture material during the suturing procedure and sometimes for suture removal

Question 21

tenaculum

Answer 21

a long, two-handled instrument with pointed ends used to grasp tissue during surgery; a cervical tenaculum is commonly used in well-woman exams

Question 22

time out

Answer 22

patient safety practice recommended by TJC; at the beginning of each surgical procedure, the team members pause to ensure the correct patient identity, correct surgical site, and correct procedure

Question 23

towel clamps (clips)

Answer 23

small instruments of various shapes used to keep sterile towels used as drapes in place during surgery