Intraoperative Procedures 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 Intraoperative Procedures flashcards as text
During a craniotomy, bone wax is used to:
Answer: Control bleeding from cancellous bone of the skull
Bone wax is a hemostatic agent packed into bleeding diploë (cancellous bone) of the skull to mechanically tamponade hemorrhage.
Which position places the patient flat on their back with legs elevated in stirrups?
Answer: Lithotomy
Lithotomy position has the patient supine with hips flexed and legs elevated in stirrups, used for gynecological, urological, and colorectal procedures.
When handing a scalpel to the surgeon, the scrub tech should use the:
Answer: Neutral zone (hands-free) technique placing it in a designated area
The neutral zone (hands-free) technique requires placing sharp instruments in a designated basin or pad so neither party is exposed to simultaneous contact with the blade.
The purpose of a self-retaining retractor such as a Balfour retractor is to:
Answer: Hold the wound open without requiring manual effort
Self-retaining retractors like the Balfour maintain wound exposure independently, freeing surgical team members from manual retraction duties.
Raytec (X-ray detectable) sponges are used intraoperatively rather than standard gauze because:
Answer: They can be identified on postoperative X-ray if accidentally retained
Raytec sponges contain a radiopaque filament detectable on X-ray, which allows identification of any retained sponge during postoperative imaging.
During a thyroidectomy, the surgeon asks for a nerve stimulator. This instrument is used to:
Answer: Identify and confirm the recurrent laryngeal nerve to avoid injury
A nerve stimulator delivers a small electrical impulse to identify and map the recurrent laryngeal nerve, preventing inadvertent injury during thyroidectomy.
Which hemostatic agent is derived from oxidized cellulose and works by creating an artificial clot?
Answer: Surgicel (oxidized regenerated cellulose)
Surgicel is made from oxidized regenerated cellulose that lowers pH and denatures blood proteins, creating a coagulum that promotes hemostasis.