Certified Surgical Technologist Random 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which suture material is most appropriate for closing contaminated wounds due to its resistance to infection?
- Silk
- Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl)
- Monofilament nylon (Correct answer)
- Chromic gut
Correct answer: Monofilament nylon
Monofilament sutures like nylon have fewer interstices for bacteria to colonize, making them preferred in contaminated wound closures.
Question 2: During a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon requests insufflation. Which gas is most commonly used?
- Oxygen
- Nitrous oxide
- Carbon dioxide (Correct answer)
- Nitrogen
Correct answer: Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is used for laparoscopic insufflation because it is readily absorbed by the body and does not support combustion.
Question 3: A patient is placed in the Trendelenburg position. Which procedure is this position most commonly used for?
- Kidney surgery
- Lower abdominal and pelvic surgery (Correct answer)
- Thoracic surgery
- Head and neck surgery
Correct answer: Lower abdominal and pelvic surgery
Trendelenburg (head-down tilt) shifts abdominal organs cephalad, improving access to pelvic and lower abdominal structures.
Question 4: Which layer of the surgical drape placed directly on the patient must be sterile?
- The outer layer only
- Both inner and outer layers
- The inner (patient-contact) layer (Correct answer)
- Neither layer requires sterility
Correct answer: The inner (patient-contact) layer
The innermost surface of the drape that contacts the patient and sterile field must be sterile to maintain asepsis.
Question 5: The surgical technologist passes a hemostat to the surgeon who hands it back contaminated with blood. The correct action is to:
- Wipe it with a sterile sponge and return it to the sterile field (Correct answer)
- Place it in the kick bucket immediately
- Clean it with a sterile saline-soaked sponge and reuse it
- Remove it from the sterile field and replace with a clean instrument
Correct answer: Wipe it with a sterile sponge and return it to the sterile field
Blood-contaminated instruments should be wiped with a sterile sponge to remove gross debris and returned to the sterile field; they remain sterile unless sterility is otherwise compromised.
Question 6: Which anatomical structure is at greatest risk of injury during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?
- Portal vein
- Common bile duct (Correct answer)
- Right hepatic artery
- Cystic vein
Correct answer: Common bile duct
The common bile duct is at greatest risk during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is why critical view of safety must be established before clipping.
Question 7: When using bipolar electrosurgery, which is true compared to monopolar electrosurgery?
- Current travels through the entire body to a dispersive pad
- Current flows only between the two tips of the forceps (Correct answer)
- A grounding pad is required
- It generates more lateral thermal spread
Correct answer: Current flows only between the two tips of the forceps
Bipolar electrosurgery confines current between the two forceps tips, eliminating the need for a dispersive pad and reducing unintended tissue damage.
Certified Surgical Technologist Random 2
Which suture material is most appropriate for closing contaminated wounds due to its resistance to infection?