CST Instruments & Equipment Management 4

Question 1

What is the function of a Penrose drain in surgery?

Accepted Answer

To passively drain fluid from a wound or cavity

Answer

A Penrose drain is a soft latex tube placed in a wound to allow passive drainage of fluid by capillary action and gravity.

Question 2

Which saw is most commonly used for sternotomy during cardiac surgery?

Accepted Answer

Oscillating saw

Answer

An oscillating (reciprocating) power sternal saw is used to divide the sternum along the midline for cardiac access.

Question 3

Which instrument is used to approximate wound edges for skin closure without sutures?

Accepted Answer

Skin stapler

Answer

A skin stapler applies stainless steel staples to rapidly approximate skin edges as an alternative to suture closure.

Question 4

A Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain differs from a Penrose drain in that it:

Accepted Answer

Uses active closed-suction drainage

Answer

A Jackson-Pratt drain uses a collapsible bulb to create negative pressure, providing active closed-suction drainage of wound fluid.

Question 5

When using a harmonic scalpel, energy is transmitted to tissue through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Ultrasonic vibration

Answer

The harmonic scalpel uses ultrasonic vibration (55,500 Hz) to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue with minimal thermal spread.

(CST) Certified Surgery Technician Practice Test