Basics Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Basics flashcards as text
The purpose of the time-out procedure before surgery is to:
Answer: Verify patient identity, procedure, site, and confirm all team members are ready
The Universal Protocol time-out actively confirms correct patient, procedure, and site to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient errors.
When opening sterile supplies onto the back table, the circulator should:
Answer: Peel the package open and drop or present the item without contaminating contents
The circulator peels back the wrapper and either drops the sterile item onto the field or presents it so the scrub tech can remove it, maintaining sterile integrity.
Which hemostatic agent works by providing a matrix for platelet aggregation?
Answer: Gelatin sponge (Gelfoam)
Absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) provides a physical scaffold that facilitates platelet aggregation and clot formation.
A patient is placed in the lithotomy position. The MOST important complication to monitor for during extended procedures is:
Answer: Compartment syndrome of the lower extremities
Prolonged lithotomy position compresses the lower extremity compartments and can cause compartment syndrome, a serious, potentially limb-threatening complication.
Chromic gut suture differs from plain gut suture in that it:
Answer: Has been treated with chromium salts to extend absorption time
Chromic gut is treated with chromium trioxide, which cross-links collagen fibers and delays absorption from 7–10 days to 10–21 days.
Which instrument would the scrub tech most likely hand the surgeon to grasp and cut the cystic duct during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
Answer: Laparoscopic clip applier and laparoscopic scissors
During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, clips are applied to the cystic duct with a clip applier, and laparoscopic scissors are used to divide it between the clips.
The primary reason for performing a surgical hand scrub is to:
Answer: Remove transient microorganisms and reduce resident flora to a minimum
The surgical hand scrub removes transient bacteria and significantly reduces resident flora; complete skin sterilization is not achievable, which is why sterile gloves are still worn.