CSFA Surgical Positioning and Draping 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of surgical draping?
- To keep the patient warm during surgery
- To create and maintain a sterile field around the operative site (Correct answer)
- To absorb blood and fluids during the procedure
- To prevent the patient from moving during surgery
Correct answer: To create and maintain a sterile field around the operative site
Surgical draping establishes and maintains a sterile field by covering all areas except the operative site, directly reducing the risk of surgical site infection.
Question 2: When placing surgical drapes, the correct direction is to drape:
- From the periphery toward the incision site
- From the incision site outward to the periphery (Correct answer)
- From foot to head in all cases
- All drapes should be placed simultaneously
Correct answer: From the incision site outward to the periphery
Draping proceeds from the incision site outward to the periphery to protect the sterile operative area from contact with less-clean surrounding regions.
Question 3: A fenestrated surgical drape contains:
- An adhesive strip to secure the drape to the skin
- A pre-cut opening that exposes the operative site (Correct answer)
- An absorbent inner layer to capture blood
- A transparent window for instrument visualization
Correct answer: A pre-cut opening that exposes the operative site
A fenestrated drape has a pre-cut opening (fenestration) positioned over the operative site, exposing only the area to be incised while keeping everything else covered.
Question 4: When positioning a patient in the prone position, which combination of areas requires the most vigilant pressure injury protection?
- Occiput and heels only
- Eyes, ears, breasts (women), genitalia (men), and bony prominences (Correct answer)
- Only the knees and elbows
- The abdomen and thorax only
Correct answer: Eyes, ears, breasts (women), genitalia (men), and bony prominences
In the prone position, the eyes, ears, breasts, male genitalia, and all bony prominences must be carefully padded and protected from direct pressure.
Question 5: Which positioning device is most effective in preventing patient sliding during steep Trendelenburg position?
- Standard arm boards alone
- A vacuum bean bag or padded shoulder braces (Correct answer)
- Wrist restraints only
- Leg restraints secured at the ankles
Correct answer: A vacuum bean bag or padded shoulder braces
Vacuum bean bags or padded shoulder braces are the most effective devices for preventing cephalad patient migration during steep Trendelenburg positioning.
Question 6: The reverse Trendelenburg position tilts the patient so that:
- The head is lower than the feet
- The head is elevated above the feet (Correct answer)
- The patient is at a 90-degree angle
- The patient is in a lateral recumbent position
Correct answer: The head is elevated above the feet
In reverse Trendelenburg, the table is tilted so the head is higher than the feet, used for upper abdominal surgery and laparoscopic procedures to allow viscera to fall away from the upper abdomen.
Question 7: Which surgical position carries the greatest risk of venous air embolism?
- Supine
- Prone
- Lithotomy
- Sitting (upright/beach chair) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sitting (upright/beach chair)
The sitting (upright) position places the surgical site above the level of the heart, creating a negative pressure gradient that can entrain air into opened veins.
CSFA Surgical Positioning and Draping 2
What is the primary purpose of surgical draping?