Surgical Procedures & 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 Surgical Procedures & Techniques flashcards as text
When assisting with a skin graft procedure, meshing the graft allows it to:
Answer: Expand to cover a larger area and allow fluid drainage
Meshing expands the graft surface area and creates openings for seroma and hematoma drainage, which are common causes of graft failure.
During a laparoscopic appendectomy, the mesoappendix is typically divided using:
Answer: Stapling device or energy sealing device across the mesoappendix
An energy-sealing device (e.g., LigaSure) or endoscopic stapler is commonly used to divide the mesoappendix and control the appendiceal artery simultaneously.
The purpose of placing a Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain after an abdominal procedure is to:
Answer: Remove accumulated fluid (blood, bile, lymph) via closed suction
A JP drain uses closed suction to remove fluid collections such as blood, bile, or lymphatic fluid that could otherwise cause infection or abscess formation.
When the first assistant is retracting the small bowel during a pelvic dissection, the preferred retractor to use is:
Answer: A moist pack with a malleable (ribbon) retractor
Moist laparotomy packs protect the bowel from direct retractor trauma and desiccation while a malleable retractor maintains exposure during pelvic dissection.
During a carotid endarterectomy, a shunt may be placed to:
Answer: Maintain cerebral perfusion during carotid cross-clamping
A temporary intraluminal shunt maintains antegrade blood flow to the brain while the carotid artery is clamped and the endarterectomy is performed.
A purse-string suture placed around the appendix stump in an open appendectomy is used to:
Answer: Invert the stump into the cecal wall after ligation
The purse-string suture inverts the ligated appendiceal stump into the cecum to reduce contamination risk and create a smooth serosal surface.
When closing a midline laparotomy incision with a running mass closure technique, the suture-to-wound length ratio should be at least:
Answer: 4:1
A 4:1 suture-to-wound length ratio is recommended for mass closure, achieved with small bites (5mm from the fascial edge) taken every 5mm, reducing fascial ischemia and dehiscence risk.