NBSTSA Surgical Instrumentation & Equipment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of scissors are used to cut suture material rather than tissue?
- Metzenbaum scissors
- Mayo scissors (Correct answer)
- Iris scissors
- Potts scissors
Correct answer: Mayo scissors
Mayo scissors have heavy, straight or curved blades designed for cutting thick suture material and fascia, not delicate tissue.
Question 2: A Bookwalter retractor system is best classified as which type of retractor?
- Hand-held retractor
- Self-retaining retractor (Correct answer)
- Vein retractor
- Skin hook retractor
Correct answer: Self-retaining retractor
The Bookwalter is a self-retaining ring retractor system that attaches to the OR table and holds abdominal walls open without requiring an assistant.
Question 3: What is the proper method for counting instruments during a surgical procedure according to AORN guidelines?
- Count once at the end of the procedure only
- Perform initial count before surgery, then count at closure of each body cavity and final skin closure (Correct answer)
- Count only when the surgeon requests a count
- Count only instruments added to the sterile field during the case
Correct answer: Perform initial count before surgery, then count at closure of each body cavity and final skin closure
AORN guidelines require instrument counts before the procedure begins, at closure of each body cavity, at final skin closure, and whenever the scrub person changes.
Question 4: The Penrose drain is correctly described as a:
- Closed suction drain
- Passive soft rubber tube drain (Correct answer)
- Rigid chest drain
- T-tube biliary drain
Correct answer: Passive soft rubber tube drain
A Penrose drain is a passive, soft latex rubber flat tube that drains wound secretions by capillary action and gravity without suction.
Question 5: What does the term 'cutting' refer to in the context of electrosurgical units (ESU)?
- A high-voltage, low-frequency current that chars tissue
- A continuous low-voltage, high-frequency current that rapidly heats cells to vaporize them (Correct answer)
- A blended current that coagulates and cuts simultaneously
- A bipolar current that seals small vessels
Correct answer: A continuous low-voltage, high-frequency current that rapidly heats cells to vaporize them
The cutting mode uses continuous, low-voltage, high-frequency current that heats intracellular water rapidly, vaporizing cells for precise cutting.
Question 6: Which instrument is specifically designed for grasping and manipulating the appendix during appendectomy?
- Babcock clamp (Correct answer)
- Kocher clamp
- Allis clamp
- Sponge stick (ring forceps)
Correct answer: Babcock clamp
The Babcock clamp has atraumatic, curved fenestrated jaws designed to encircle and grasp tubular structures like the appendix, fallopian tube, or ureter without crushing.
NBSTSA Surgical Instrumentation & Equipment 1
Which type of scissors are used to cut suture material rather than tissue?