CST Instruments & Equipment Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which instrument is used to grasp and hold tissue during dissection?
- Metzenbaum scissors
- Tissue forceps (Correct answer)
- Retractor
- Needle driver
Correct answer: Tissue forceps
Tissue forceps are designed to grasp and hold tissue securely during surgical dissection.
Question 2: The Bookwalter retractor system is best classified as which type of retractor?
- Hand-held retractor
- Self-retaining retractor (Correct answer)
- Malleable retractor
- Skin hook
Correct answer: Self-retaining retractor
The Bookwalter is a self-retaining ring retractor system that holds itself in place without manual assistance.
Question 3: Which suture needle shape is most appropriate for suturing in deep, confined spaces?
- Straight needle
- ½ circle needle (Correct answer)
- ¼ circle needle
- ⅜ circle needle
Correct answer: ½ circle needle
A ½ circle needle provides the greatest arc for rotating in tight, deep cavities where space is limited.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a trocar in laparoscopic surgery?
- To cut tissue
- To provide port access into a body cavity (Correct answer)
- To irrigate the surgical field
- To retract abdominal organs
Correct answer: To provide port access into a body cavity
A trocar is a pointed instrument inserted through the body wall to establish a port for laparoscopic instruments.
Question 5: Which clamp is specifically designed to occlude intestinal contents without crushing the bowel?
- Rochester-Pean clamp
- Kocher clamp
- Allen clamp (Correct answer)
- Babcock clamp
Correct answer: Allen clamp
The Allen intestinal clamp has atraumatic jaws designed to occlude the bowel lumen without causing crushing injury.
Question 6: What does the term 'fenestrated' describe when referring to surgical drapes?
- Sterile packaging material
- An opening cut in the drape for the operative site (Correct answer)
- A waterproof backing layer
- A color-coded edge indicating sterility
Correct answer: An opening cut in the drape for the operative site
A fenestrated drape has a pre-cut opening (fenestration) that exposes only the operative site while maintaining a sterile field around it.
Question 7: During the instrument count, when should the first count be performed?
- After the patient is positioned
- Before the skin incision
- Before the procedure begins and before items are added to the sterile field (Correct answer)
- Immediately before closure
Correct answer: Before the procedure begins and before items are added to the sterile field
The initial count is performed before the procedure begins to establish a baseline before any instruments are introduced to the field.
CST Instruments & Equipment Management 2
Which instrument is used to grasp and hold tissue during dissection?