General Surgery Flashcards

When giving towels to a surgeon to square off an incision site, where should the first scrub surgical technologist stand?

Answer: same side as surgeon

When assisting the surgeon with draping, specifically when squaring off an incision site with towels, the first scrub surgical technologist should stand on the same side as the surgeon. This positioning facilitates efficient and sterile transfer of instruments and drapes, maintaining the sterile field and promoting smooth teamwork. It allows the technologist to anticipate the surgeon's needs and pass items directly.

What surgical posture allows for the best pelvis or lower abdomen visibility?

Answer: trendelenburg

The Trendelenburg position involves placing the patient on their back with the head lower than the feet, tilting the entire operating table. This position uses gravity to shift the abdominal organs superiorly (towards the head). This displacement provides excellent exposure and visibility of the pelvic and lower abdominal regions, making it ideal for gynecological, urological, and lower abdominal surgeries.

The tympanic membrane is sometimes known as the?

Answer: eardrum

The tympanic membrane is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that forms the boundary between the external ear and the middle ear. It is commonly known as the eardrum. Its primary function is to vibrate when struck by sound waves, transmitting these vibrations to the ossicles in the middle ear, which is a crucial step in the process of hearing.

What is the name of the urinary catheter used on patients with urethral strictures that has a narrow, curved, tapered tip?

Answer: coude

A coudé catheter is a type of urinary catheter distinguished by its curved, tapered tip. This specific design makes it particularly useful for navigating past obstructions in the urethra, such as an enlarged prostate or urethral strictures. The curved tip helps the catheter slide more smoothly through constricted areas, reducing trauma and facilitating successful catheterization.

What bacteria can survive without oxygen?

Answer: anaerobes

Anaerobes are microorganisms, typically bacteria, that are capable of growing and thriving in environments completely devoid of oxygen. Unlike aerobes, which require oxygen for respiration, anaerobes utilize other molecules as electron acceptors for their metabolic processes. Some anaerobes are even harmed or killed by the presence of oxygen.

What pathology in neurosurgery would a myelogram identify?

Answer: spinal stenosis

A myelogram is a diagnostic imaging procedure that involves injecting a contrast dye into the spinal canal, followed by X-rays or CT scans. This dye highlights the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding structures. It is particularly valuable in neurosurgery for identifying conditions like spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal canal that can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots.

What is the name of the waxy secretion found in the external ear canal?

Answer: cerumen

Cerumen, commonly known as earwax, is a yellowish, waxy substance secreted in the ear canals of humans and other mammals. It is produced by ceruminous and sebaceous glands in the outer ear canal. Cerumen plays an important protective role by trapping dust, foreign particles, and microorganisms, and by lubricating the ear canal skin.

What situations would make a cell saver transfusion contraindicated?

Answer: cancer procedures

Cell saver (autologous blood salvage) transfusions involve collecting, processing, and reinfusing a patient's own blood lost during surgery. However, this technique is generally contraindicated in cancer procedures. The primary concern is the potential risk of reinfusing cancerous cells back into the patient's bloodstream, which could theoretically lead to metastasis or recurrence of the cancer.

Which aneurysm typically forms in the iliac and renal arteries?

Answer: abdominal aortic

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a localized enlargement or ballooning of the abdominal aorta, the body's largest artery. While primarily affecting the aorta, AAAs frequently extend into or involve the iliac arteries, which branch off the aorta. Although renal arteries are not directly part of the aneurysm, their proximity means they can be affected if the aneurysm is located near them.

Which of the following wants is being met by the patient when he or she has faith in the surgical team's skills, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Answer: safety

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the 'safety' need encompasses personal security, health, and protection from harm. When a patient expresses faith in the surgical team's skills, they are seeking assurance that their physical well-being will be protected and that the procedure will be performed competently. This directly addresses their fundamental need for safety and security during a vulnerable time.

Choose the oblique incision from the list below.

Answer: daily

An oblique incision is a surgical cut made at an angle, rather than vertically or horizontally, often following the natural lines of muscle fibers or skin creases. While 'daily' is not a standard, widely recognized name for an oblique incision in surgical literature, in the context of this question, it is presented as the correct option for an oblique incision. Common oblique incisions include the McBurney or Kocher incisions.