Certified Surgical Technologist Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which instrument classification includes towel clamps, sponge forceps, and needle holders?
- Cutting and dissecting instruments
- Clamping and occluding instruments
- Grasping and holding instruments (Correct answer)
- Retracting and exposing instruments
Correct answer: Grasping and holding instruments
Towel clamps, sponge forceps, and needle holders fall into the grasping and holding category because they are designed to grasp and hold objects securely.
Question 2: The C-arm fluoroscope is used intraoperatively primarily to:
- Monitor the patient's cardiac rhythm
- Provide real-time X-ray imaging during the procedure (Correct answer)
- Measure bone density
- Guide ultrasound-based tissue sampling
Correct answer: Provide real-time X-ray imaging during the procedure
The C-arm provides real-time fluoroscopic (X-ray) imaging during surgery, allowing visualization of bone, hardware placement, and contrast studies.
Question 3: Which suture material is classified as absorbable and synthetic monofilament?
- Silk
- Vicryl (polyglactin 910)
- PDS (polydioxanone) (Correct answer)
- Chromic gut
Correct answer: PDS (polydioxanone)
PDS (polydioxanone) is a synthetic, absorbable, monofilament suture that retains tensile strength longer than most other absorbable sutures.
Question 4: Which instrument is used to compress and occlude the fallopian tube during tubal ligation?
- Hulka clip applicator (Correct answer)
- Fogarty clamp
- Pratt cervical dilator
- Sims uterine sound
Correct answer: Hulka clip applicator
The Hulka clip applicator is used to apply a mechanical clip to the fallopian tube to occlude it during laparoscopic tubal ligation.
Question 5: When passing a sharps instrument on the sterile field, the safest technique is:
- Hand-to-hand directly to the surgeon
- Place in a neutral zone and announce its placement (Correct answer)
- Toss the instrument gently across the field
- Recap the needle before passing
Correct answer: Place in a neutral zone and announce its placement
The neutral zone technique requires placing sharps in a designated area and announcing placement, eliminating hand-to-hand transfer and reducing sharps injuries.
Question 6: The primary difference between monopolar and bipolar electrosurgery is:
- Monopolar uses lower voltage
- Bipolar current passes between two instrument tips, not through the patient's body (Correct answer)
- Bipolar requires a dispersive electrode
- Monopolar is used only for coagulation
Correct answer: Bipolar current passes between two instrument tips, not through the patient's body
In bipolar electrosurgery, current flows only between the two tips of the forceps, limiting tissue effect to the grasped area without traveling through the patient.
Question 7: Which retractor is commonly used to retract the liver during upper abdominal procedures?
- Balfour retractor
- Weinberg retractor
- Harrington retractor (Correct answer)
- O'Sullivan-O'Connor retractor
Correct answer: Harrington retractor
The Harrington (sweetheart) retractor has a broad paddle shape specifically designed to retract the liver safely during upper abdominal surgery.
Certified Surgical Technologist Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment 4
Which instrument classification includes towel clamps, sponge forceps, and needle holders?