Certified Surgical Technologist Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia Questions and Answers

Question 1

During a procedure on a patient's hand, the surgeon requests "Xylocaine with epinephrine." The surgical technologist notes the scheduled procedure is a digital nerve block for the index finger.
What is the most critical concern with this request?

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine can cause severe vasoconstriction, leading to digital ischemia.

Answer

The patient may have an allergic reaction to Xylocaine.

Answer

Epinephrine will shorten the duration of the anesthetic effect.

Answer

The combination is only effective for spinal anesthesia.

Question 2

A surgeon performing a coronary artery bypass graft requests papaverine to be applied topically to the internal mammary artery. The primary function of papaverine in this application is to:

Accepted Answer

prevent vasospasm.

Answer

act as a local anesthetic.

Answer

promote blood coagulation.

Answer

sterilize the vessel surface.

Question 3

During a vascular procedure, the anesthesia provider announces that they are administering protamine sulfate. The surgical technologist should recognize that this drug is being used to reverse the effects of which medication?

Accepted Answer

Heparin

Answer

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Answer

Thrombin

Answer

Epinephrine

Question 4

Which of the following is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent characterized by a rapid onset and very short duration of action, often used for endotracheal intubation?

Accepted Answer

Succinylcholine (Anectine)

Answer

Rocuronium (Zemuron)

Answer

Pancuronium (Pavulon)

Answer

Vecuronium (Norcuron)

Question 5

The surgical technologist is preparing a hemostatic agent by mixing a powder with thrombin. The final product is a spongy material that will be applied topically to an oozing surface. The circulator reminds the team, "This should never be injected." Which of the following agents fits this description?

Accepted Answer

Absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam)

Answer

Injectable normal saline with epinephrine

Answer

Oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel)

Answer

Microfibrillar collagen (Avitene)

Question 6

A patient is given atropine sulfate preoperatively. What is the primary purpose of this medication in this context?

Accepted Answer

To reduce oral and respiratory secretions

Answer

To induce sedation and amnesia

Answer

To provide postoperative pain relief

Answer

To reverse the effects of narcotics

During a procedure on a patient's hand, the surgeon requests "Xylocaine with epinephrine." The surgical technologist notes the scheduled procedure is a digital nerve block for the index finger.What is the most critical concern with this request?

During a procedure on a patient's hand, the surgeon requests "Xylocaine with epinephrine." The surgical technologist notes the scheduled procedure is a digital nerve block for the index finger.
What is the most critical concern with this request?