Hemostasis & Suture Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real CFA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hemostasis & Suture Techniques flashcards as text
Which of the following suture materials has the LONGEST absorption time in tissue?
Answer: Polydioxanone (PDS)
PDS (polydioxanone) retains tensile strength for approximately 6 weeks and is fully absorbed over 6 months, the longest of these options.
The first assistant's role during vessel ligation includes:
Answer: Maintaining exposure and passing ties so the surgeon can ligate efficiently
The first assistant maintains exposure, retracts surrounding tissue, and passes suture material to facilitate the surgeon's accurate ligature placement.
Bipolar electrosurgery differs from monopolar primarily because:
Answer: Current passes only between the two tips of the forceps, limiting spread
In bipolar electrosurgery current flows only between the two forceps tips, confining energy to the grasped tissue and minimizing collateral thermal injury.
A suture labeled '5-0' compared to a suture labeled '2-0' is:
Answer: Thinner and weaker
In the USP suture sizing system, higher numbers beyond 0 indicate smaller diameter and lower tensile strength (e.g., 5-0 is finer than 2-0).
During laparoscopic surgery, which hemostatic energy device uses ultrasonic vibration to coagulate and cut tissue simultaneously?
Answer: Harmonic scalpel
The Harmonic scalpel uses ultrasonic energy at 55,000 Hz to vibrate a blade, generating frictional heat that denatures protein and achieves hemostasis while cutting.
Gelfoam (absorbable gelatin sponge) achieves hemostasis primarily by:
Answer: Providing a physical matrix that absorbs blood and promotes platelet aggregation
Gelfoam is a physical hemostatic agent that absorbs blood up to 45 times its weight, creating a scaffold for platelet aggregation and clot formation.
When performing a continuous running suture for bowel anastomosis, the first assistant should:
Answer: Maintain consistent tension on the running strand as the surgeon advances
The first assistant maintains steady, gentle tension on the running suture strand to prevent puckering and ensure even tissue approximation as the surgeon advances.