CST Operating Room Setup & Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended minimum air exchange rate per hour in a standard operating room?
- 10 exchanges per hour
- 15 exchanges per hour
- 20 exchanges per hour (Correct answer)
- 25 exchanges per hour
Correct answer: 20 exchanges per hour
AORN guidelines recommend a minimum of 20 air exchanges per hour in the OR to minimize airborne contamination.
Question 2: Which type of OR table attachment is used to support the patient's arm during procedures requiring access to the brachial plexus area?
- Kidney rest
- Armboard (Correct answer)
- Beach chair adapter
- Shoulder brace
Correct answer: Armboard
An armboard attaches to the OR table to support and position the patient's arm during procedures requiring upper extremity access.
Question 3: When setting up a back table, the surgical technologist should arrange instruments in what order?
- Alphabetical order by instrument name
- Order of anticipated use during the procedure (Correct answer)
- Largest to smallest by size
- Sterilization date order
Correct answer: Order of anticipated use during the procedure
Instruments on the back table are organized by order of anticipated use so they can be passed efficiently during the procedure.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a Mayo stand in the OR?
- To hold sterile supplies in reserve
- To support the surgeon's arms during long procedures
- To hold instruments immediately needed during surgery (Correct answer)
- To elevate the operative field
Correct answer: To hold instruments immediately needed during surgery
The Mayo stand holds instruments that will be immediately needed during the current phase of surgery, keeping them within easy reach.
Question 5: The sterile field should be established how far in advance of the scheduled procedure start time?
- As far in advance as needed for efficiency
- No more than 30 minutes before the procedure (Correct answer)
- At least 2 hours before to allow for airing out
- Exactly 1 hour before incision time
Correct answer: No more than 30 minutes before the procedure
AORN recommends the sterile field be set up as close to the time of use as possible, with no more than 30 minutes considered acceptable by many facilities.
Question 6: Which OR environmental factor must be maintained to prevent hypothermia in pediatric patients?
- Humidity below 30%
- Room temperature at 68°F (20°C)
- Room temperature raised to 85–90°F (29–32°C) (Correct answer)
- Increased airflow to 30 exchanges per hour
Correct answer: Room temperature raised to 85–90°F (29–32°C)
Pediatric patients lose heat rapidly, so OR temperature is raised significantly — often to 85–90°F — to prevent hypothermia during their procedures.
Question 7: What is the proper technique for opening a sterile peel-pack onto the sterile field?
- Tear open quickly and toss the contents onto the field
- Peel back the edges and allow contents to drop onto the field without reaching in (Correct answer)
- Hold the pack above the field and shake the contents out
- Open only one side and reach in with sterile gloves to retrieve the item
Correct answer: Peel back the edges and allow contents to drop onto the field without reaching in
Sterile peel-packs are opened by peeling back both edges and dropping the contents onto the sterile field, avoiding contamination of the field or the item.
CST Operating Room Setup & Management 2
What is the recommended minimum air exchange rate per hour in a standard operating room?