CST Intraoperative Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a laparotomy, the surgeon requests a self-retaining retractor. Which of the following is MOST appropriate?
- Army-Navy retractor
- Balfour retractor (Correct answer)
- Richardson retractor
- Deaver retractor
Correct answer: Balfour retractor
The Balfour retractor is a self-retaining abdominal retractor that holds the wound open without an assistant.
Question 2: When passing a scalpel to the surgeon, the ST should use which technique?
- Hand the handle directly to the surgeon's palm
- Place it in a neutral zone on the field (Correct answer)
- Pass blade-first toward the surgeon
- Toss it gently onto the sterile field
Correct answer: Place it in a neutral zone on the field
The neutral zone (no-hands) technique reduces sharps injury risk by placing the instrument in a designated area for the surgeon to pick up.
Question 3: Which suture is MOST appropriate for closing fascia in a high-tension abdominal closure?
- Plain gut 3-0
- Chromic gut 2-0
- Polypropylene #1 (Correct answer)
- Silk 2-0
Correct answer: Polypropylene #1
Polypropylene (Prolene) #1 is a non-absorbable, high-tensile monofilament suture ideal for fascial closure under tension.
Question 4: A vessel loop is MOST commonly used intraoperatively to:
- Ligate bleeding vessels permanently
- Retract and isolate vessels or nerves (Correct answer)
- Mark surgical margins on tissue
- Approximate wound edges temporarily
Correct answer: Retract and isolate vessels or nerves
Vessel loops are silicone loops used to retract and isolate delicate structures such as blood vessels and nerves without damaging them.
Question 5: During an open cholecystectomy, which clamp is used to grasp the cystic duct before ligation?
- Kocher clamp
- Kelly clamp
- Babcock clamp
- Right-angle (Mixter) clamp (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Right-angle (Mixter) clamp
The right-angle (Mixter) clamp is used to dissect around and pass ligatures beneath tubular structures like the cystic duct.
Question 6: The ST notices the field count is off by one sponge just before closure. The correct action is to:
- Proceed with closure and document the discrepancy
- Inform the surgeon immediately and conduct a thorough search (Correct answer)
- Add a sponge to balance the count
- Recount silently without telling anyone
Correct answer: Inform the surgeon immediately and conduct a thorough search
Any count discrepancy must be immediately reported to the surgeon so a search can be conducted before closing to prevent retained foreign bodies.
Question 7: Which electrosurgery mode cuts tissue by producing a continuous waveform?
- Coagulation mode
- Blend mode
- Cut mode (Correct answer)
- Bipolar mode
Correct answer: Cut mode
Cut mode uses a continuous, unmodulated high-frequency current that rapidly heats cells to vaporize tissue cleanly.
CST Intraoperative Procedures 2
During a laparotomy, the surgeon requests a self-retaining retractor.
Which of the following is MOST appropriate?