CST Practice Exam 1 Part 1 Spring 2024 Questions and
Answers
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal
cord passes? - ANSWER B. 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? - ANSWER B. 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? - ANSWER C.
inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration? -
ANSWER B. Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture? -
ANSWER A. avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the
cholecystectomy? - ANSWER A.cystic artery and cystic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin graft
site? - ANSWER A. pressure dressing
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used
to grasp the cervix? - ANSWER C. 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? - ANSWER D. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a
craniotomy? - ANSWER A. bayonet forceps
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the sterile field, they should
- ANSWER A. pass back-to-back.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood? - ANSWER C.
extracorporeal bypass
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure.
C. type of the procedure.
,D. anxiety level of the patient. - ANSWER A. physiologic condition of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should be packaged with one
basin - ANSWER D.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? - ANSWER D. bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the surgical
technologist respond? - ANSWER C. Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless
greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an
appendectomy should be - ANSWER A.placed in a separate basin.
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a strangulated hernia? -
ANSWER B. necrosis
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for draping the patient? -
ANSWER C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a paramedian incision is
performed? - ANSWER D. rectus abdominis
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a cervical fracture? -
ANSWER D. Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is controlled by - ANSWER
C. 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? - ANSWER
B. surgical gloves
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon must enter which of the
following? - ANSWER B. Gerota's fascia
Which of the following is the MOST common straight catheter used prior to
laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the OR? - ANSWER D. Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery? - ANSWER C.
bladder suspension
Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the following procedures might be
performed on the patient in the operating room? - ANSWER C. sigmoidoscopy
Which of the following is a fenestrated drape? - ANSWER A. 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? - ANSWER A. primary intention
Which of the following patients is MOST likely to acquire a nosocomial infection? -
ANSWER D. a male patient who has diabetes
The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the following
types of suture? - ANSWER D. purse-string
Aerobic organisms are BEST characterized as - ANSWER C. oxygen-requiring.
The PRIMARY purpose of chest tubes is to - ANSWER D. re-establish negative
pressure.
Which of the following is a surgical instrument designed for retracting? - ANSWER
D. Gelpi
Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to remove a carcinoma from
the head of the pancreas? - ANSWER B. Whipple
A sterile item used with an electrosurgical unit is the - ANSWER C. active electrode
What is the desired effect of atropine sulfate when used as a preoperative
medication? - ANSWER D. 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? - ANSWER C. osteomyelitis
Which of the following is used to stabilize a fractured finger? - ANSWER D.
Kirschner wires
Which of the following is the primary purpose for changing into operating room
attire? - ANSWER B. 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 - ANSWER B. request to be removed from the room.
Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to - ANSWER B. decrease
intracranial pressure.
Which of the following lies between the lung and the chest wall? - ANSWER C.
pleura
Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent dressing? - ANSWER A. adaptic
A Balfour is used in which of the following procedures? - ANSWER B. sigmoid
resection
Answers
Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal
cord passes? - ANSWER B. 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? - ANSWER B. 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? - ANSWER C.
inflammation
Which of the following instruments is used for a common bile duct exploration? -
ANSWER B. Randall forceps
Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when cutting suture? -
ANSWER A. avoiding the knot
Which of the following structures are ligated and divided during the
cholecystectomy? - ANSWER A.cystic artery and cystic duct
Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile dressing to a skin graft
site? - ANSWER A. pressure dressing
When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the following instruments is used
to grasp the cervix? - ANSWER C. 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? - ANSWER D. acceptance
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a
craniotomy? - ANSWER A. bayonet forceps
When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the sterile field, they should
- ANSWER A. pass back-to-back.
Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate blood? - ANSWER C.
extracorporeal bypass
The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure.
C. type of the procedure.
,D. anxiety level of the patient. - ANSWER A. physiologic condition of the patient.
If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should be packaged with one
basin - ANSWER D.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? - ANSWER D. bean bag
A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How should the surgical
technologist respond? - ANSWER C. Do not acknowledge the neighbor unless
greeted first
Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal stump during an
appendectomy should be - ANSWER A.placed in a separate basin.
Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of a strangulated hernia? -
ANSWER B. necrosis
Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for draping the patient? -
ANSWER C.Readjust the drapes as necessary after placement.
Which of the following structures is separated first when a paramedian incision is
performed? - ANSWER D. rectus abdominis
Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a cervical fracture? -
ANSWER D. Mayfield clamp
During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is controlled by - ANSWER
C. 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? - ANSWER
B. surgical gloves
In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon must enter which of the
following? - ANSWER B. Gerota's fascia
Which of the following is the MOST common straight catheter used prior to
laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the OR? - ANSWER D. Robinson
A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of surgery? - ANSWER C.
bladder suspension
Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the following procedures might be
performed on the patient in the operating room? - ANSWER C. sigmoidoscopy
Which of the following is a fenestrated drape? - ANSWER A. 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? - ANSWER A. primary intention
Which of the following patients is MOST likely to acquire a nosocomial infection? -
ANSWER D. a male patient who has diabetes
The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by which of the following
types of suture? - ANSWER D. purse-string
Aerobic organisms are BEST characterized as - ANSWER C. oxygen-requiring.
The PRIMARY purpose of chest tubes is to - ANSWER D. re-establish negative
pressure.
Which of the following is a surgical instrument designed for retracting? - ANSWER
D. Gelpi
Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to remove a carcinoma from
the head of the pancreas? - ANSWER B. Whipple
A sterile item used with an electrosurgical unit is the - ANSWER C. active electrode
What is the desired effect of atropine sulfate when used as a preoperative
medication? - ANSWER D. 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? - ANSWER C. osteomyelitis
Which of the following is used to stabilize a fractured finger? - ANSWER D.
Kirschner wires
Which of the following is the primary purpose for changing into operating room
attire? - ANSWER B. 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 - ANSWER B. request to be removed from the room.
Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to - ANSWER B. decrease
intracranial pressure.
Which of the following lies between the lung and the chest wall? - ANSWER C.
pleura
Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent dressing? - ANSWER A. adaptic
A Balfour is used in which of the following procedures? - ANSWER B. sigmoid
resection
