Certified Surgical Technologist Certified Surgical Technologist MCQ 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which layer of the abdominal wall is the deepest fascial layer encountered before reaching the peritoneum?
- Scarpa's fascia
- Camper's fascia
- Transversalis fascia (Correct answer)
- External oblique fascia
Correct answer: Transversalis fascia
Transversalis fascia lies just deep to the transversus abdominis muscle and directly superficial to the peritoneum.
Question 2: During a laparotomy, the surgeon requests a Bookwalter retractor. This device is classified as a:
- Hand-held retractor
- Self-retaining retractor (Correct answer)
- Ribbon retractor
- Vein retractor
Correct answer: Self-retaining retractor
The Bookwalter is a ring-based self-retaining retractor system that holds itself open without manual assistance.
Question 3: What is the correct action when a scrubbed surgical technologist accidentally contaminates a glove during a procedure?
- Continue the procedure and change gloves at the next break
- Step back and have the circulator pull off the contaminated glove (Correct answer)
- Pour sterile saline over the glove to decontaminate it
- Wipe the glove with an alcohol swab and continue
Correct answer: Step back and have the circulator pull off the contaminated glove
The contaminated glove must be changed immediately; the circulator removes the outer glove without contaminating the sterile inner glove or field.
Question 4: A patient is placed in the Trendelenburg position. Which primary physiological concern should the surgical team monitor?
- Decreased venous return
- Increased intracranial pressure (Correct answer)
- Hyperthermia
- Peripheral nerve compression in the lower extremities
Correct answer: Increased intracranial pressure
Trendelenburg position increases intracranial pressure due to venous pooling in the head, which can be hazardous in patients with head injuries.
Question 5: Which suture is most appropriate for closing contaminated wounds or bowel anastomoses due to its resistance to infection?
- Silk
- Chromic gut
- Polypropylene
- Polyglycolic acid (Dexon) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Polyglycolic acid (Dexon)
Polyglycolic acid (Dexon) is a synthetic absorbable suture that resists infection better than natural sutures like silk or chromic gut.
Question 6: During a right hemicolectomy, the surgical technologist should anticipate which anastomosis type?
- Jejuno-jejunostomy
- Ileocolostomy (Correct answer)
- Colorectal anastomosis
- Esophagogastrostomy
Correct answer: Ileocolostomy
Right hemicolectomy removes the right colon and terminal ileum, requiring an ileocolostomy to reconnect the ileum to the remaining colon.
Question 7: What does the term 'strike-through contamination' mean in the context of surgical draping?
- A needle penetrating a drape
- Moisture soaking through a drape compromising sterility (Correct answer)
- A drape falling off the sterile field
- Air contaminating the sterile field through a torn drape
Correct answer: Moisture soaking through a drape compromising sterility
Strike-through contamination occurs when moisture wicks through a drape, providing a path for microorganisms to reach the sterile field.
Certified Surgical Technologist Certified Surgical Technologist MCQ 2
Which layer of the abdominal wall is the deepest fascial layer encountered before reaching the peritoneum?