CST Surgical Instrumentation & Equipment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which retractor is self-retaining and commonly used to hold open a wound without an assistant?
- Army-Navy retractor
- Weitlaner retractor (Correct answer)
- Ribbon retractor
- Deaver retractor
Correct answer: Weitlaner retractor
The Weitlaner retractor is a self-retaining instrument with interlocking ratchet teeth that holds wound edges open without manual assistance.
Question 2: A Bookwalter retractor system is best suited for which type of surgery?
- Ophthalmic surgery
- Abdominal surgery (Correct answer)
- Neurosurgery
- Otolaryngology surgery
Correct answer: Abdominal surgery
The Bookwalter is a table-mounted, self-retaining retractor system specifically designed for deep abdominal and pelvic exposure.
Question 3: Which instrument is used to grasp and hold a needle during suturing?
- Metzenbaum scissors
- Needle holder (Correct answer)
- Tissue forceps
- Hemostatic clamp
Correct answer: Needle holder
A needle holder (needle driver) has a grooved jaw designed to grip a suture needle securely during placement.
Question 4: The Kerrison rongeur is most commonly used during which procedure?
- Splenectomy
- Laminectomy (Correct answer)
- Cholecystectomy
- Thyroidectomy
Correct answer: Laminectomy
The Kerrison rongeur is a spoon-shaped biting instrument used in spinal surgery to remove bone and ligament during laminectomy procedures.
Question 5: Which forceps are most appropriate for handling delicate intestinal tissue?
- Kocher clamps
- DeBakey forceps (Correct answer)
- Allis forceps
- Kocher forceps
Correct answer: DeBakey forceps
DeBakey forceps have atraumatic, longitudinally serrated tips designed to handle vascular and delicate intestinal tissue without crushing.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a towel clamp (Backhaus clamp) in the sterile field?
- Clamping blood vessels
- Securing sterile drapes to the patient (Correct answer)
- Grasping tissue specimens
- Holding retractors in place
Correct answer: Securing sterile drapes to the patient
Backhaus (towel) clamps have sharp, penetrating tips used to secure sterile drapes to the patient and to each other during draping.
Question 7: Which electrosurgical unit (ESU) mode uses interrupted current and produces a cutting and coagulating effect simultaneously?
- Pure cut
- Blend mode (Correct answer)
- Fulguration
- Bipolar mode
Correct answer: Blend mode
Blend mode on the ESU combines cutting current with coagulation current to simultaneously cut tissue and control bleeding.
CST Surgical Instrumentation & Equipment 2
Which retractor is self-retaining and commonly used to hold open a wound without an assistant?