Certified Surgical Technologist Preoperative Care and Preparation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which patient position is most appropriate for a patient undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
- Prone with arms extended overhead
- Supine with reverse Trendelenburg and left lateral tilt (Correct answer)
- Lithotomy with steep Trendelenburg
- Lateral decubitus with axillary roll
Correct answer: Supine with reverse Trendelenburg and left lateral tilt
Reverse Trendelenburg with left lateral tilt shifts abdominal organs away from the operative field, improving visualization of the gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Question 2: When preparing a patient for surgery with a known Foley catheter in place, what must the surgical technologist verify?
- That the catheter is clamped to prevent urine loss
- That the drainage bag is positioned above bladder level
- That the catheter is patent and draining freely before positioning (Correct answer)
- That the catheter balloon is deflated before transport to the OR
Correct answer: That the catheter is patent and draining freely before positioning
Verifying catheter patency and free drainage before positioning prevents bladder distention, which can complicate surgery and harm the patient.
Question 3: A patient scheduled for a total knee arthroplasty asks if a tourniquet will be used. What is the surgical technologist's best response?
- Tourniquets are never used in joint replacement surgeries
- That decision is made by the surgeon and you can ask them directly (Correct answer)
- Tourniquets are required by law for all orthopedic procedures
- Inflating a tourniquet is not your responsibility to explain
Correct answer: That decision is made by the surgeon and you can ask them directly
Surgical technologists should direct clinical questions about surgical decisions to the surgeon, who will discuss tourniquet use as part of informed consent.
Question 4: Which preoperative medication is routinely administered to reduce the risk of surgical site infection?
- Prophylactic antibiotic within 60 minutes of incision (Correct answer)
- Antifungal agent 24 hours before surgery
- Antiviral medication two days before the procedure
- Antibiotic immediately after wound closure
Correct answer: Prophylactic antibiotic within 60 minutes of incision
Prophylactic antibiotics administered within 60 minutes before incision (120 minutes for vancomycin/fluoroquinolones) achieve optimal tissue concentration to prevent SSI.
Question 5: What is the primary reason hair removal at the surgical site should be done with clippers rather than a razor?
- Clippers are faster and save OR time
- Razors create micro-abrasions that increase infection risk (Correct answer)
- Clippers are required by OSHA for all surgical hair removal
- Razors cannot be sterilized between uses
Correct answer: Razors create micro-abrasions that increase infection risk
Razors create small skin cuts that harbor bacteria and increase surgical site infection rates, making clippers the recommended method per evidence-based guidelines.
Question 6: During the preoperative time-out, a discrepancy is noted between the surgical consent and the procedure listed on the OR schedule. What should occur?
- Proceed using the OR schedule as it is the most current document
- Stop and resolve the discrepancy before the procedure begins (Correct answer)
- Ask the scrub tech to initial the consent form as corrected
- Rely on the surgeon's verbal confirmation and continue
Correct answer: Stop and resolve the discrepancy before the procedure begins
Any discrepancy identified during the time-out must halt the procedure until the correct information is verified and all team members agree before incision.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the role of the surgical technologist during the preoperative phase when the patient is being transferred to the OR table?
- Observing from a distance to avoid contaminating the sterile field
- Assisting with safe patient transfer and ensuring IV lines and tubes are protected (Correct answer)
- Documenting the transfer in the electronic health record
- Obtaining final consent signatures before transfer is complete
Correct answer: Assisting with safe patient transfer and ensuring IV lines and tubes are protected
The surgical technologist actively assists with safe patient transfer, helping to protect IV lines, drains, and the airway while preventing patient falls.
Certified Surgical Technologist Preoperative Care and Preparation 3
Which patient position is most appropriate for a patient undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?