Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes?
foramen magnum
Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been opened in OR 1. A surgical technologist was just informed that the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case in OR 1 is scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
New sterile supplies and instruments should be obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed of.
Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to injury?
inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration?
Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture?
avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the cholecystectomy?
cystic artery and cystic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin graft site?
pressure dressing
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used to grasp the cervix?
Schroeder
On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient tells the nurse, "No matter what happens, it will be okay." Which of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST likely in?
acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a craniotomy?
bayonet forceps
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the sterile field, they should
pass back-to-back.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood?
extracorporeal bypass
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate anesthetic agent is the
physiologic condition of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should be packaged with one basin
stacked inside the other and separated by a towel.
Which of the following items may be used in positioning a patient for a total hip arthroplasty?
bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the surgical technologist respond?
Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an appendectomy should be
placed in a separate basin.
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a strangulated hernia?
necrosis
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for draping the patient?
Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a paramedian incision is performed?
rectus abdominis
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a cervical fracture?
Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is controlled by
cauterization.
To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical procedure, which of the following should be removed LAST by the surgical technologist in the scrub role?
surgical gloves
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon must enter which of the following?
Gerota's fascia
Which of the following is the MOST common straight catheter used prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the OR?
Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery?
bladder suspension
Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the following procedures might be performed on the patient in the operating room?
sigmoidoscopy
Which of the following is a fenestrated drape?
a drape with an opening that allows exposure of the operative site
An appendectomy incision closed using suture is considered to be which of the following types of wound closure?
primary intention
Which of the following patients is MOST likely to acquire a nosocomial infection?
a male patient who has diabetes
The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the following types of suture?
purse-string
Aerobic organisms are BEST characterized as
oxygen-requiring.
The PRIMARY purpose of chest tubes is to
re-establish negative pressure.
Which of the following is a surgical instrument designed for retracting? \
Gelpi
Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to remove a carcinoma from the head of the pancreas?
Whipple
A sterile item used with an electrosurgical unit is the
A. generator.
active electrode
What is the desired effect of atropine sulfate when used as a preoperative medication?
drying of secretions
A postoperative total arthroplasty patient presents to the emergency department with severe throbbing pain, fever, and malaise. Which of the following is the likely diagnosis?
osteomyelitis
Which of the following is used to stabilize a fractured finger?
Kirschner wires
Which of the following is the primary purpose for changing into operating room attire?
to prevent the of spread of microorganisms
A surgical technologist is assigned to a room where the patient happens to be his neighbor. To protect patient confidentiality, the technologist should indicate that he knows the patient and
request to be removed from the room.
Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to
decrease intracranial pressure.
Which of the following lies between the lung and the chest wall?
pleura
Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent dressing?
adaptic
A Balfour is used in which of the following procedures?
sigmoid resection
If the VII cranial nerve is severed, which of the following is the result?
facial paralysis
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
cuticular and subcuticular
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
appendectomy
Which of the following layers are transected when a subcostal flank incision is used for a nephrectomy?
oblique muscles
A perforator is used for which of the following procedures?
craniotomy
In preparation for a cranial aneurysm, which of the following pieces of equipment would MOST likely be used?
microscope
During strabismus surgery, which of the following is the first tissue layer that must be incised?
conjunctiva
When can instrument counts be omitted?
if an emergency procedure must be performed
In which of the following positions is a patient placed for a right nephrectomy?
left lateral kidney
Which of the following examples illustrates UNSAFE technique for disposing of contaminated sharps?
Used suture needles and scalpel blades are removed from the needle counter and individually placed in the biohazard sharps container.
Why is the right kidney typically several centimeters lower than the left kidney?
The liver rests superior and anterior to the right kidney.
Which of the following should be the MINIMUM exposure time in a flash sterilizer for unwrapped instruments?
3 minutes
If a routine surgical procedure was performed without consent, the surgeon committed
battery.
If an adult patient refuses a blood transfusion, the surgical staff should
not administer blood to the patient.
During the intraoperative phase, which of the following activities can be completed by both sterile and non-sterile members of the surgical team?
caring for the specimen
A lumbar meningocele involves removal of
a fluid-filled sac.
Wrinkle-free padding is applied to an extremity before application of a tourniquet to avoid
skin injuries
A specimen obtained for frozen section is generally removed from the sterile field intraoperatively because it
is sent to pathology immediately.
Which of the following procedures is used to visualize the cystic, hepatic, and common ducts?
cholangiography
A scleral buckle procedure repairs
detached retinas.
Which of the following retractors should the surgical technologist have available to provide exposure to the patellar tendon while harvesting the graft for an ACL repair?
Senn
The surgical technologist in the scrub role should remain sterile following which of the following surgical procedures?
carotid endarterectomy
During dissection of the cystic duct in an open cholecystectomy, which of the following instruments is necessary?
Mixter clamp
A patient entering the operating room for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy looks jaundiced. Which of the following is the BEST explanation for this?
biliary obstruction
The primary purpose of a local anesthetic is to
block peripheral nerve receptors.
Which of the following is the correct skin preparation for a female patient undergoing a right mastectomy with possible axillary dissection?
shoulder, upper arm and extending down to the elbow, axilla, chest to the table line, and to the left shoulder
When performing a parotidectomy, which of the following nerves is identified and preserved with the use of a nerve stimulator?
facial nerve
Which of the following medications is the anesthesia provider responsible for recording the name, amount, and delivery method during a surgical procedure?
propofol
As a surgical technologist begins to prep a female patient for Foley catheterization, a bulge in the vaginal wall is noticed. Which of the following would cause this bulge?
cystocele
A surgical technologist enters the OR after scrubbing and notices spots of blood on the OR lights. Which of the following actions is the MOST appropriate?
Break scrub to clean the lights and help open a new sterile field.
Which of the following instruments should be included in a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) setup?
resectoscope
Which of the following instruments has teeth?
Kocher
When entering the abdominal cavity, which of the following BEST describes the order of contact with the layers of tissue?
skin, subcutaneous, fascia, muscle, peritoneum
If a Kelly clamp is left in a patient who underwent a cholecystectomy, which of the following legal concepts apply?
res ipsa loquitur
A surgical technologist just opened an instrument set that is wet inside after undergoing steam sterilization. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for the condensate in the package and how can it be corrected?
The absorbent towels were wrapped too tightly around the instrument tray, so they retained moisture. The tray should be reprocessed with loosely wrapped new towels
A surgeon's preference card indicates the surgeon wears a size L gown and double-gloves with a size 7 inner glove and size 6-1/2 outer glove, and the first assistant wears a size XL gown and double-gloves with a size 7-1/2 inner glove and size 7 outer glo
XL gown, 7-1/2 glove, 7 glove, L gown, 7 glove, 6-1/2 glove
Following a surgical procedure, which of the following is the BEST sequence of actions for a surgical technologist to take?
Remove sterile drapes, remove gown and gloves, and don a pair of unsterile gloves to aid in the care of the postoperative patient.
Which of the following drugs neutralizes the action of heparin?
protamine sulfate
Which of the following wounds is MOST likely in the inflammatory phase of wound healing?
an abdominal incision, 20 minutes post-closure
To revascularize the heart muscle of a patient with heart disease, a graft may be anastomosed between which of the following two vessels?
internal mammary artery to affected coronary artery
A laparotomy drape has been placed on a patient, and unprepped skin on the operative site is exposed. Which of the following is the BEST next step?
Remove drapes and re-prep
While preparing a sterile field, a surgical technologist secures the Bovie holster to the Mayo stand. The surgeon insists on keeping the Bovie by him toward the head of the patient. Which of the following wou
Move Bovie holster up by head of patient.
Ratcheted instruments should be
opened for washing and sterilizing.
An effective packaging material used for a Balfour to be steam sterilized
permits penetration by the sterilant.
The parathyroid gland regulates
calcium.
Scoliosis is MOST commonly found in which of the following curves of the vertebral column?
thoracic
Which of the following is the MOST effective mechanical method of controlling bleeding occurring from needle holes in vessel anastomoses?
pledget
Which of the following should be visualized on an x-ray to determine if a long bone is still growing?
epiphyseal plate
Which of the following procedures for obtaining an informed consent form is appropriate?
The patient is asked to sign the consent form after the surgeon has explained the procedure.
Which of the following procedures is used for removal of an embolus?
balloon catheterization
Which of the following items should be used to transport a patient in traction?
bed
At the conclusion of the surgical procedure, the Mayo stand should
remain sterile until the patient leaves the room.
Which of the following is used during a tympanoplasty?
operating microscope
Removing a cataract by ultrasonic vibration and aspiration is called
phacoemulsification.
Surgical loupes are used to
magnify the surgical field
A patient undergoing a blood transfusion is having a hemolytic reaction. Which of the following actions should the healthcare providers take FIRST?
Stop the transfusion
A patient's dentures are removed in the operating room. Which of the following is the proper procedure for the care of the dentures?
Place them in a labeled denture cup and keep them with the patient's chart.
Which of the following is associated with secondary intention wound healing?
tissue granulation
When inflating a 5-cc balloon on a Foley catheter, which of the following would be the MOST appropriate choice?
8-10 mL of sterile water
During a craniotomy, removal of the bone flap is followed by
incision of the dura mater
During a laparoscopic appendectomy, which of the following types of staplers should the surgical technologist have ready on the back table for removing the appendix and ensuring no spillage of bowel content?
linear
Which of the following solutions is used to identify diseased areas for a cold conization of the cervix?
Lugol's
Which of the following is the correct position for dilation and curettage?
lithotomy
An RN has just asked a surgical technologist to complete a task that is within the surgical technologist's scope of practice, but the surgical technologist does not feel comfortable completing the task independently. Which of the following is the surgical
Request that the RN provides the appropriate level of supervision during the task to ensure safety.
Which of the following may be used for a cerebral aneurysm?
brain spoon
Which of the following instruments should be included in the set-up for a laminectomy?
Kerrison
A surgical technologist is preparing a fresh specimen for frozen section to be passed off of the field. How should
wrap it in a Telfa pad
Which of the following suturing techniques features short lateral stitches that are taken beneath the epithelial layer of skin?
subcuticular
Which of the following surgical needles is MOST appropriately used in a liver resection?
blunt
Which of the following is NOT an acceptable technique when placing a patient in the lithotomy position?
legs placed in stirrups one at a time
What is the function of silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene)?
antimicrobial
If unexpected heavy blood loss occurs during an abdominal procedure, a surgical technologist should request additional
lap sponges
A surgical technologist is explaining the steps of the ESU circuit to a student. The surgical technologist should explain that the electric current is channeled back to the generator through the
dispersive (inactive) electrode.
Sponges that have been added to the sterile field after a procedure has begun should be counted by the
surgical technologist in the scrub role and the circulator.
During a procedure, a surgical technologist touches an unsterile item with a sterile glove. Which of the following should be done?
Change the glove at once
The oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells is a function of
hemoglobin.
Which of the following procedures uses a trocar?
laparoscopy
A major function of the colon is to
absorb water
Hepatitis B is caused by a
virus.
At the conclusion of a surgical case, how would the surgical technologist in the scrub role aid in reducing bioburden on instruments as the first step in the sterilization cycle?
hand cleaning
A potential surgical complication of an inguinal herniorrhaphy is injury to the
spermatic cord.
What type of incision is typically used for an open cholecystectomy?
subcostal
Which of the following pathogens would MOST likely cause a post-operative SSI?
Staphylococcus aureus
Which of the following must be done before sterilizing an instrument with a lumen?
injecting a small amount of distilled water into the lumen
Which of the following is the correct order, from the outermost to the innermost layer, of the tissues that compose the wall of the stomach and small intestine?
1. submucosa
2. muscularis
3. serosa
4. mucosa
3, 2, 1, 4
Which of the following is NOT a symptom of shock?
hypertension
When transferring an unconscious, post-operative adult patient from the operating room table to a bed, what is the minimum number of people required for safe transfer?
4
Which of the following scissors is MOST likely found in a basic hysterectomy set-up?
Jorgenson
Which of the following is used to remove clots and tissue from the bladder during transurethral resections (TURPs)?
Ellik evacuator
A Javid shunt is used for which of the following procedures?
carotid endarterectomy
How much 0.25% bupivacaine (Marcaine) should be mixed with 1 mL of 1.0% lidocaine (Xylocaine) to make the solution equal strengths of both medications?
4.0 mL
Hair removed during preparation for cranial surgery should be
saved because it is personal property
Which of the following terms best describes a formal medical process when death occurs in surgery and the surgeon and anesthesia care provider must verify that death has occurred?
determination of death
To help prevent toxicity and vascular events in a patient where polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is used, which of the following devices should a surgical technologist have available?
pulse lavage
A pneumatic tourniquet may be used for extremity surgery to
reduce blood loss.
During a craniotomy, which of the following types of bone is entered?
flat
Which of the following is a procedure for removing excess skin from the face and neck?
rhytidectomy
During an open repair of an indirect hernia, which of the following drains should a surgical technologist have available to pass the surgeon once the spermatic cord has been dissected?
Penrose
What color is a nitrous oxide tank?
blue
Which of the following is MOST likely to be in place while transferring a patient from the operating room table to the stretcher?
1. IV tubing
2. Fogarty catheter
3. EKG wires
4. Foley catheter
1 and 4 only
Which of the following types of sponges is used directly on the structures of the brain?
cottonoid
Which of the following procedures requires an incision in the suprasternal notch?
mediastinoscopy
Following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon has just closed the peritoneum. Which of the following layers will be sutured next?
fascia
During the application of arch bars, the surgeon will MOST likely use which of the following between the teeth and around the bar?
25- or 26-gauge stainless steel wire
In which of the following positions should a patient be placed for a low anterior colon resection?
lithotomy
A #12 knife blade on a #7 handle is MOST commonly used for what type of surgery?
tonsillectomy
Which of the following anticoagulants should be given during a vascular procedure to prevent normal blood clotting?
heparin sodium
What advantage do hand-held retractors have over self-retaining retractors?
dynamic adjustability
In which of the following congenital anomalies does the urethra open on the underside of the penis?
hypospadias
Once a surgical technologist dons a gown, the cuffs on the gown are considered unsterile because they are
absorbant and collect moisture.
A physician prescribed 50 milligrams of Demerol. The Demerol is supplied in 100 mg/mL. How many mL of Demerol should be given?
0.5 mL
A surgeon asks a surgical technologist to place a drop of a mydriatic solution in OD. As a result of this medication, the pupil of the
right eye will dilate.
A Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz (MMK) requires which of the following skin preparations?
1. abdominal
2. vaginal
3. rectal
4. extremity
1 and 2 only
Which of the following conditions is triggered by an injection of succinylcholine (Anectine) and causes an unusually high fever?
malignant hyperthermia
Which of the following statements regarding surgical scrubbing is NOT true?
A. Two accepted methods of surgical scrubbing are the timed method and the counted brush-stroke method.
B. A vigorous 5-minute scrub with a reliable agent may be as effective as a
Prolonging a scrub beyond the standard scrub length is effective in decreasing microbe counts.
Which of the following spore-forming microorganisms are used as biological monitors for checking steam sterilization effectiveness for a load of instruments in a rigid container?
Bacillus stearothermophilus
During a laminectomy, disk material is removed with
a pituitary rongeur.
Which of the following retractors is used for a C-section?
De Lee
A surgical technologist is preparing the incision site for the dressing following a TAH. The patient has developed a hematoma at the incision site. The surgeon has left the room. Which of the following actions should the surgical technologist take?
Have the surgeon return.
Which of the following is a type of herniation that occurs with protrusion of the peritoneal sac and its contents (omentum or abdominal viscera)?
umbilical
Heaney clamps are used MOST frequently for which of the following types of surgery?
hysterectomy
During a C-section, a surgical technologist passes the surgeon a pair of Metzenbaum scissors and Russian forceps. Which of the following anatomical parts is dissected off the uterus and gently retracted prior to uterine incision?
bladder
Between each surgical procedure, decontamination of walls involves washing
areas that have been splashed with blood or debris.
Which of the following situations would present a problem when preparing instruments for sterilization using a paper-plastic peel pack?
The instruments within the paper-plastic peel pack have been held together with tape to avoid shifting.
A patient undergoing a procedure while under general anesthesia begins to experience muscle rigidity, followed by tachycardia, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Which of the following is the patient experiencing?
malignant hyperthermia
Anterior and posterior knee stability is influenced by the dynamics of the
cruciate ligaments.
When applying a pneumatic tourniquet preoperatively, which of the following items is used to force blood from an extremity?
Esmarch bandage
After gowning and gloving, a surgeon activates the DuraPrep applicator and proceeds to prep the patient for surgery. Which of the following is the BEST action to take at this time?
Regown and reglove the surgeon.
After a lung resection is performed, which of the following BEST describes the placement of the collection unit once it is hooked up to the drainage tubing?
below the level of the insertion tube
Which of the following methods of hospital sterilization does not corrode metal and passes through woven materials like steam?
ethylene oxide