Certified Surgical Technologist Basics 3

Question 1

The Trendelenburg position places the patient:

Accepted Answer

Supine with the head tilted downward and feet elevated

Answer

Trendelenburg position is supine with the head down and feet up, commonly used for lower abdominal and pelvic surgeries.

Question 2

Which type of wound closure uses staples or sutures placed through all layers of the abdominal wall?

Accepted Answer

Retention (tension) sutures

Answer

Retention (tension) sutures are large sutures placed through all layers of the abdominal wall to prevent wound dehiscence in high-risk patients.

Question 3

Flash sterilization (IUSS) is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Rapid steam sterilization of unwrapped instruments for immediate use

Answer

Immediate-use steam sterilization (IUSS/flash) uses high-temperature steam on unwrapped items intended for immediate use, not for storage.

Question 4

Which instrument is used to retract the liver during upper abdominal procedures?

Accepted Answer

Deaver retractor

Answer

The Deaver retractor is a large, curved, handheld retractor commonly used to retract the liver and other large organs.

Question 5

The 'sterile conscience' principle means the surgical technologist must:

Accepted Answer

Report all contamination events, even self-caused ones, immediately

Answer

A sterile conscience requires every team member to immediately report any break in sterile technique, regardless of who caused it.

Certified Surgical Technologist Practice Test