NBSTSA Wound Management & Surgical Complications 5

Question 1

A surgeon requests retention sutures for closure of a high-risk abdominal wound. The purpose of retention sutures is to:

Accepted Answer

Provide additional support to prevent dehiscence of fascial layers

Answer

Retention sutures (e.g., through-and-through sutures with bolsters) provide supplemental support to the fascial closure and reduce the risk of wound dehiscence in high-risk patients.

Question 2

Which complication is MOST associated with the use of electrosurgery near a wound that has been prepped with alcohol-based antiseptic that has not fully dried?

Accepted Answer

Surgical fire

Answer

Pooled alcohol-based prep solution that has not fully evaporated can be ignited by an electrosurgical spark, causing a surgical fire.

Question 3

Keloid formation differs from hypertrophic scarring in that keloids:

Accepted Answer

Extend beyond the original wound margins into surrounding tissue

Answer

Keloids are characterized by excessive collagen deposition that extends beyond the original wound boundaries, unlike hypertrophic scars which remain within the wound margins.

Question 4

When performing sharp wound debridement intraoperatively, the scrub technologist should:

Accepted Answer

Remove debrided tissue from the sterile field immediately and discard instruments used on necrotic tissue

Answer

Instruments contaminated with necrotic or infected tissue should be removed from the sterile field promptly to prevent cross-contamination of clean instruments.

Question 5

A patient experiences evisceration of abdominal contents through the wound on postoperative day 6. The IMMEDIATE nursing/surgical technologist action is to:

Accepted Answer

Cover the evisceration with sterile saline-moistened dressings and notify the surgeon

Answer

Sterile saline-moistened dressings protect the eviscerated organs from drying and further injury while the surgical team prepares for emergent return to the OR.

NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Practice Test

NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Practice Test

NBSTSA Wound Management & Surgical Complications 5