CST Trauma & Emergency Surgery 3

Question 1

A blunt trauma patient with hemodynamic instability and a FAST exam positive for free fluid most likely requires:

Accepted Answer

Immediate operative intervention (exploratory laparotomy)

Answer

A hemodynamically unstable trauma patient with positive FAST (free intraperitoneal fluid) requires immediate surgical exploration without delay for CT imaging.

Question 2

Which suture is most appropriate for rapid fascial closure during damage control surgery when a planned re-exploration is anticipated?

Accepted Answer

Running #1 looped PDS or nylon (Smead-Jones)

Answer

Running looped PDS or nylon in a mass closure technique provides rapid, strong fascial closure while allowing reopening for planned re-exploration.

Question 3

During an emergency splenectomy for trauma, the scrub tech should anticipate ligation of which vessel first to control hemorrhage?

Accepted Answer

Splenic artery at the splenic hilum

Answer

Early ligation of the splenic artery at the hilum reduces inflow and blood loss, making the splenectomy safer and faster.

Question 4

A trauma patient requiring emergency exploratory laparotomy is found to have a bowel injury with gross contamination. The initial damage control decision is to:

Accepted Answer

Resect the injured bowel and leave ends stapled, defer anastomosis

Answer

In damage control, injured bowel is resected and stapled closed (discontinuity resection) without anastomosis; reconstruction is deferred until the patient is stabilized.

Question 5

Which blood product is given FIRST in a massive transfusion protocol (MTP) for trauma?

Accepted Answer

Packed red blood cells (pRBCs) with concurrent FFP in a 1:1 ratio

Answer

Massive transfusion protocols use balanced resuscitation with pRBCs and FFP (and platelets) in a 1:1:1 ratio to prevent coagulopathy while replacing volume.

(CST) Certified Surgery Technician Practice Test

(CST) Certified Surgery Technician Practice Test

CST Trauma & Emergency Surgery 3