ABSA SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 STUDY GUIDE |
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWER-:S | BRAND NEW!
Intra-operative superficial and deep suction drain placement with compression
dressings following mastectomy procedures reduce the incidence of which of the
following compilations: - Answer-:-:;Post-op seroma
"Straight-up" skin retraction during dissection serves to: - Answer-:-:;Decrease
skin perforation and or thermal damage from cautery
Damage to the long thoracic nerve during axillary node dissection may cause: -
Answer-:-:;Paralysis of the serrates anterior
Retroperitoneal structures are most at risk of inadvertent damage in which of the
following procedures: - Answer-:-:;Sigmoid Colectomy
The right colic artery is a branch for the: - Answer-:-:;Superior Mesenteric Artery
Three distinct and visible longitudinal bands of a smooth muscle running the
length of the colon are referred to as: - Answer-:-:;Taenia Coli
,The primary difference between the Cushing and Connell suturing technique for
GI anastomosis include which of the following: - Answer-:-:;The Connell stitch
penetrates the mucosal layer, while the Cushing does not
The ligament encountered just anterior to the dorsal lamina during laminotomy is
known as the: - Answer-:-:;Ligamentum flavum
The typical suction tip used in lumbar spine surgery is known as the: - Answer-:-
:;Frazier suction tip
Spinal ganglia and nerve roots are protected by which two tissue layers listed
below? - Answer-:-:;Arachnoid mater and dura mater
In the radiographic image above, which of the following fixation strategies has
been used - Answer-:-:;Internal fixation
Heads of locking screws are machined to make threaded contact with the
reciprocal plate. The mechanical advantage of such screws is best described by
which of the following: - Answer-:-:;Threaded screw heads facilitated mechanical
coupling to the plate for angular screw stability
In accordance with AO standards, rigid fixation across the epiphyseal plate is
generally considered: - Answer-:-:;Contraindicated in pediatric surgery
Which of the following structures inserts into the tibial tubercle and may need
some distal and medial release during the arthrotomy phase of knee arthroplasty:
- Answer-:-:;Patellar ligament
,Which of the following locations for collateral ligament release may be required
during the tibial trial phase of knee arthroplasty: - Answer-:-:;Medial distal
insertion
Which one of the following approaches for hip replacement spares the hip
abductors and may lead to fewer post-op dislocations, but requires a specialized
OR table (Hana) to perform? - Answer-:-:;Anterior
Which of the following muscle structures is primarily classified as a hip abductor,
and may be considered problematic when transected and reapproximated, or
otherwise violated during hip replacement surgery? - Answer-:-:;Gluteus medias
A Frazier tip suction held to the back of a Cottonoid Pattie are likely used to clear
the operative field in which of the following: - Answer-:-:;Microsurgery
Which of the following cauterization devices would be appropriate in tight spaces,
with high risk for collateral nerve tissue nearby? - Answer-:-:;Bipolar cautery
forceps
When passing sutures for deep ligation with a tonsil hemostat, how far from the
tip is most "optimal" for the suture to be clamped? - Answer-:-:;The suture should
exit the jaw of the clamp at the very tip
When tying #2-0 Vicryl sutures, how many alternate throws produce a secure
knot? - Answer-:-:;The number your surgeon wants plus one
, Which of the following features represent a disadvantage of monofilament suture
material? - Answer-:-:;Poor relative knot security compared with braided material
"Eversion" of skin edges for staple closure means: - Answer-:-:;Turn the skin edges
up, that is, line up the dermal margins
Blood spattering on the lens of a operative microscope should be with - Answer-:-
:;Water
One site in the body that is protected as far as antibiotic therapy goes (meaning it
is harder to get tissue in that area to respond to the drug) is: - Answer-:-:;Joint
Reactive airway disease is also know as - Answer-:-:;Asthma
Most anticancer agents act by inhibiting cell - Answer-:-:;Proliferation
Most drugs, toxins and metabolites are excreted in the - Answer-:-:;Urine
One of the most common undesirable effects of insulin administration is -
Answer-:-:;Hypoglycemia
Parkinson`s Disease is caused by decreased ________ neurotransmission. -
Answer-:-:;Dopamine
_________ is an acid reducing agent. - Answer-:-:;Axid
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 STUDY GUIDE |
FREQUENTLY TESTED QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWER-:S | BRAND NEW!
Intra-operative superficial and deep suction drain placement with compression
dressings following mastectomy procedures reduce the incidence of which of the
following compilations: - Answer-:-:;Post-op seroma
"Straight-up" skin retraction during dissection serves to: - Answer-:-:;Decrease
skin perforation and or thermal damage from cautery
Damage to the long thoracic nerve during axillary node dissection may cause: -
Answer-:-:;Paralysis of the serrates anterior
Retroperitoneal structures are most at risk of inadvertent damage in which of the
following procedures: - Answer-:-:;Sigmoid Colectomy
The right colic artery is a branch for the: - Answer-:-:;Superior Mesenteric Artery
Three distinct and visible longitudinal bands of a smooth muscle running the
length of the colon are referred to as: - Answer-:-:;Taenia Coli
,The primary difference between the Cushing and Connell suturing technique for
GI anastomosis include which of the following: - Answer-:-:;The Connell stitch
penetrates the mucosal layer, while the Cushing does not
The ligament encountered just anterior to the dorsal lamina during laminotomy is
known as the: - Answer-:-:;Ligamentum flavum
The typical suction tip used in lumbar spine surgery is known as the: - Answer-:-
:;Frazier suction tip
Spinal ganglia and nerve roots are protected by which two tissue layers listed
below? - Answer-:-:;Arachnoid mater and dura mater
In the radiographic image above, which of the following fixation strategies has
been used - Answer-:-:;Internal fixation
Heads of locking screws are machined to make threaded contact with the
reciprocal plate. The mechanical advantage of such screws is best described by
which of the following: - Answer-:-:;Threaded screw heads facilitated mechanical
coupling to the plate for angular screw stability
In accordance with AO standards, rigid fixation across the epiphyseal plate is
generally considered: - Answer-:-:;Contraindicated in pediatric surgery
Which of the following structures inserts into the tibial tubercle and may need
some distal and medial release during the arthrotomy phase of knee arthroplasty:
- Answer-:-:;Patellar ligament
,Which of the following locations for collateral ligament release may be required
during the tibial trial phase of knee arthroplasty: - Answer-:-:;Medial distal
insertion
Which one of the following approaches for hip replacement spares the hip
abductors and may lead to fewer post-op dislocations, but requires a specialized
OR table (Hana) to perform? - Answer-:-:;Anterior
Which of the following muscle structures is primarily classified as a hip abductor,
and may be considered problematic when transected and reapproximated, or
otherwise violated during hip replacement surgery? - Answer-:-:;Gluteus medias
A Frazier tip suction held to the back of a Cottonoid Pattie are likely used to clear
the operative field in which of the following: - Answer-:-:;Microsurgery
Which of the following cauterization devices would be appropriate in tight spaces,
with high risk for collateral nerve tissue nearby? - Answer-:-:;Bipolar cautery
forceps
When passing sutures for deep ligation with a tonsil hemostat, how far from the
tip is most "optimal" for the suture to be clamped? - Answer-:-:;The suture should
exit the jaw of the clamp at the very tip
When tying #2-0 Vicryl sutures, how many alternate throws produce a secure
knot? - Answer-:-:;The number your surgeon wants plus one
, Which of the following features represent a disadvantage of monofilament suture
material? - Answer-:-:;Poor relative knot security compared with braided material
"Eversion" of skin edges for staple closure means: - Answer-:-:;Turn the skin edges
up, that is, line up the dermal margins
Blood spattering on the lens of a operative microscope should be with - Answer-:-
:;Water
One site in the body that is protected as far as antibiotic therapy goes (meaning it
is harder to get tissue in that area to respond to the drug) is: - Answer-:-:;Joint
Reactive airway disease is also know as - Answer-:-:;Asthma
Most anticancer agents act by inhibiting cell - Answer-:-:;Proliferation
Most drugs, toxins and metabolites are excreted in the - Answer-:-:;Urine
One of the most common undesirable effects of insulin administration is -
Answer-:-:;Hypoglycemia
Parkinson`s Disease is caused by decreased ________ neurotransmission. -
Answer-:-:;Dopamine
_________ is an acid reducing agent. - Answer-:-:;Axid
