Minor Surgical Procedures and Sterile Technique Flashcards

When setting up a sterile field, which of the following actions would contaminate it?

Answer: Reaching over the sterile field to place an instrument

Reaching over a sterile field violates sterile technique because dust, lint, or microbes from the non-sterile arm or clothing can fall onto the field and contaminate it. One must always maintain a safe margin and go around the sterile field, never over it.

What is the primary goal of a surgical hand scrub?

Answer: To reduce the number of resident and transient microorganisms to a minimum

It is impossible to completely sterilize skin. The purpose of a surgical hand scrub is to remove debris and transient microorganisms and significantly reduce the resident microbial count to an irreducible minimum, preventing the introduction of pathogens into a surgical site.

Which instrument is designed for grasping tissue or holding a suture needle?

Answer: Forceps

Forceps are instruments used for grasping, holding, or manipulating tissues or objects like suture needles. There are many types, such as tissue forceps (with teeth) for grasping tissue and needle holders (a type of locking forceps) for holding suture needles.

What is the purpose of the primary layer of a dressing, which is in direct contact with the wound?

Answer: To be non-adherent and prevent trauma to the wound upon removal

The primary dressing layer is placed directly on the wound bed. Its main purpose is to create a healing environment and be non-adherent, which prevents it from sticking to the wound and causing injury to new tissue when the dressing is changed.

Which method of sterilization is most commonly used in the medical office for heat-stable surgical instruments?

Answer: Steam sterilization (autoclave)

An autoclave uses steam under pressure to achieve high temperatures (typically 121°C or 250°F), which is a highly effective, reliable, and fast method for sterilizing metal instruments and other heat-stable items. It is the standard method used in most clinical settings.

When prepping a patient's skin for a minor surgical procedure, how should the antiseptic be applied?

Answer: By starting at the center of the site and working outward in a circular motion

The proper technique for applying antiseptic is to start at the incision site (the cleanest area) and move outward in concentric circles. This motion carries microorganisms away from the intended surgical site, preventing recontamination of the area where the incision will be made.

A medical assistant is adding a sterile instrument to an established sterile field. What is the correct technique?

Answer: Open the sterile package and allow the instrument to gently drop onto the center of the field without touching the edges

To maintain sterility, you should open the package away from your body and the field, then hold it several inches above the field and let the item drop gently onto the center. This prevents your non-sterile hands or the non-sterile outer wrapper from contaminating the field.