Certified Surgical Technologist Intraoperative Procedures 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The primary purpose of maintaining normothermia (normal body temperature) during surgery is to:
- Reduce the patient's awareness of pain postoperatively
- Prevent coagulopathy, surgical site infection, and cardiac events (Correct answer)
- Lower the metabolic rate to reduce oxygen demand
- Facilitate more effective anesthetic drug metabolism
Correct answer: Prevent coagulopathy, surgical site infection, and cardiac events
Normothermia prevents hypothermia-induced coagulopathy, impaired immune function leading to SSI, and cardiac dysrhythmias that increase morbidity.
Question 2: During a cesarean section, the scrub tech should anticipate having a bulb syringe available primarily to:
- Irrigate the uterine cavity after placental delivery
- Clear the neonate's airway of fluid immediately after delivery (Correct answer)
- Aspirate amniotic fluid from the operative field
- Inject local anesthetic into the uterine incision
Correct answer: Clear the neonate's airway of fluid immediately after delivery
A bulb syringe is used to suction mucus and amniotic fluid from the neonate's mouth and nose immediately after delivery to facilitate breathing.
Question 3: When a specimen is sent to pathology as a frozen section, the purpose is to:
- Preserve the specimen for permanent histological analysis
- Obtain rapid intraoperative results to guide surgical decision-making (Correct answer)
- Prevent autolysis of tissue during a prolonged procedure
- Confirm the specimen weight for documentation purposes
Correct answer: Obtain rapid intraoperative results to guide surgical decision-making
Frozen section analysis provides rapid histopathological results within 15-20 minutes, allowing the surgeon to make intraoperative decisions such as margin clearance.
Question 4: A patient in the Trendelenburg position has their head:
- Elevated above the level of the heart
- Lower than the level of the feet (Correct answer)
- At the same level as the torso
- Turned to the side to prevent aspiration
Correct answer: Lower than the level of the feet
In Trendelenburg position, the table is tilted so the head is lower than the feet, improving surgical access to the pelvis and increasing venous return.
Question 5: Which clamp is specifically designed to occlude intestinal lumen during bowel surgery without crushing tissue?
- Kocher clamp
- Kelly clamp
- Dennis or Doyen intestinal clamp (Correct answer)
- Allis clamp
Correct answer: Dennis or Doyen intestinal clamp
Dennis and Doyen intestinal clamps have atraumatic jaws with fine serrations designed to occlude bowel lumen while preserving tissue viability.
Question 6: When preparing a sterile field for a total knee arthroplasty, the scrub tech should ensure the following implants are immediately available:
- Trial components only, with permanent implants stored offsite
- Trials, cement, the permanent implant system, and backup sizes (Correct answer)
- Only the planned size of the permanent prosthesis
- Cement only, as prosthesis is inserted press-fit without cement
Correct answer: Trials, cement, the permanent implant system, and backup sizes
Trial components confirm sizing, but the permanent implant with one size up and one size down must be available because intraoperative sizing can differ from preoperative templating.
Question 7: The purpose of placing a tourniquet on an extremity during surgery is to:
- Stabilize the limb in correct anatomical position
- Create a bloodless operative field to improve visualization (Correct answer)
- Reduce postoperative swelling by limiting lymphatic flow
- Prevent nerve conduction during regional anesthesia
Correct answer: Create a bloodless operative field to improve visualization
A pneumatic tourniquet inflated above systolic blood pressure occludes arterial inflow, creating a bloodless field that enhances visibility and reduces blood loss.
Certified Surgical Technologist Intraoperative Procedures 4
The primary purpose of maintaining normothermia (normal body temperature) during surgery is to: