CSFA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CSFA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CSFA Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CSFA Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CSFA Questions & Answers
1. The surgical skin preparation (prep) area should extend well beyond the anticipated incision site in order to:
Prepping a wide area beyond the planned incision provides a margin of sterility in case the incision must be extended or additional access sites are needed unexpectedly.
2. Topical thrombin works by converting which clotting factor to its active form?
Topical thrombin directly converts fibrinogen to fibrin, forming a clot at the site of application.
3. What is the primary purpose of surgical draping?
Surgical draping establishes and maintains a sterile field by covering all areas except the operative site, directly reducing the risk of surgical site infection.
4. When tying a surgeon's knot, how does the first throw differ from a standard square knot?
A surgeon's knot starts with a double throw (two wraps) on the first pass, creating extra friction that holds the loop in place while the second throw is placed.
5. Before activating a pneumatic tourniquet, the surgical first assistant should confirm which critical parameter has been set correctly?
Tourniquet pressure is typically set 50–100 mmHg above systolic blood pressure or based on limb occlusion pressure to ensure complete arterial occlusion without excessive tissue damage.
6. Which action correctly prevents a radiofrequency (RF) burn from a monopolar electrosurgical unit (ESU)?
The dispersive electrode must have maximum surface contact over well-perfused tissue to safely dissipate current density and prevent thermal injury.