2022 CST Exam Review Questions &
Answers Updated 2024-2025
Which of the following terms can be defined as disease-causing?
A. Saprophytic
B. Parasitic
C. Pathogenic
D. Toxigenic - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. Pathogenic
During a splenectomy, the FIRST closing count should be taken during closure of:
A. Subcutaneous fat
B. Fascia
C. Muscle
D. Peritoneum - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Peritoneum
Which of the following should be done when performing an autograft on a patient burn?
A. Prepare graft with sterile water
B. Prepare separate skin prep sites
C. Use a hyperthermia blanket
D. Use electrosurgical cautery - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Prepare separate skin prep
sites
Which of the following methods is BEST to sterilize an arthroscopy cannula?
A. Hydrogen peroxide
B. Prevacuum steam
C. Ethylene oxide
D. Aqueous glutaraldehyde - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Prevacuum steam
How far MUST an unsterile person stay from a sterile field?
A. Three inches
B. Eight inches
C. One foot
D. Three feet - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. One foot
Which of the following types of incisions is most appropriate for cholecystectomy?
A. Paramedian
B. Flank
C. Suprapubic
,D. Subcostal - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Subcostal
Most surgical scrub brushes are impregnated with:
A. Disinfectants
B. Sterilants
C. Detergents
D. Antiseptics - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Antiseptics
Which of the following perioperative techniques promotes healing?
1. Achievement of hemostasis
2. Use of Montgomery straps
3. Elimination of dead space
4. Precise tissue approximation - CORRECT ANSWERS -A. 1, 3, and 4 only
Which of the following solutions is used in arthroscopy surgery?
A. Mannitol or urea
B. Formalin or Bevins
C. Lactated ringers or normal saline
D. Sorbitol or glycine - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. Lactated ringers or normal saline
The correct procedure for replacing a contaminated glove intraoperatively is to have the
circulator remove the contaminated glove then:
A. Re-scrub, re-gown, re-glove
B. Use the closed glove technique to re-glove
C. Have the circulator re-glove the team member
D. Use the open-glove technique to re-glove - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Use the
closed glove technique to re-glove
Which of the following types of instruments is a Tenaculum?
A. Retracting
B. Clamping
C. Dissecting
D. Grasping - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Grasping
Which of the following should be available for fire safety when lasers are in use?
A. CO2 fire extinguisher
B. Smoke evacuator
C. Non-ebonized instruments
D. Sterile water or saline - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. sterile water or saline
Cleaning of instruments can be performed by:
, A. A sterrad machine
B. An autoclave
C. An automated washer
D. A steris machine - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. An automated washer
A microscope has a dust cover on it, but when it is uncovered outside the surgical suite,
the surface and lens are dusty. The BEST action for a surgical technologist to take is:
A. Clean the microscope with a disinfectant and towel and the lens with lens paper
B. Clean the entire microscope, including the lens with an OR towel and disinfectant
C. DO not clean the microscope and get another microscope
D. Do not clean the microscope because it was covered when found. - CORRECT
ANSWERS -A. Clean the microscope with a disinfectant and towel and the lens with
lens paper
Which of the following is used for drainage of the common bile duct?
A. Hickman
B. T-tube
C. Pezzer
D. Jackson-pratt - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. T-Tube
Repair of LeFort fractures is performed on which division of the skeleton?
A. Axial
B. Pectoral girdle
C. Pelvic girdle
D. Appendicular - CORRECT ANSWERS -A. Axial
Surgical dissection of the tunica vaginalis to remove a fluid-filled sac is referred to as a:
A. Spermatocelectomy
B. Hydrocelectomy
C. Orchidectomy
D. Oopherectomy - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Hydrocelectomy
A neurosurgeon would perform a craniotomy to repair premature closing of the cranial
sutures of an infant suffering from:
A. Chiari malformation
B. Craniosynostosis
C. Hydrocephalus
D. Encephalocele - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Craniosynostosis
Answers Updated 2024-2025
Which of the following terms can be defined as disease-causing?
A. Saprophytic
B. Parasitic
C. Pathogenic
D. Toxigenic - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. Pathogenic
During a splenectomy, the FIRST closing count should be taken during closure of:
A. Subcutaneous fat
B. Fascia
C. Muscle
D. Peritoneum - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Peritoneum
Which of the following should be done when performing an autograft on a patient burn?
A. Prepare graft with sterile water
B. Prepare separate skin prep sites
C. Use a hyperthermia blanket
D. Use electrosurgical cautery - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Prepare separate skin prep
sites
Which of the following methods is BEST to sterilize an arthroscopy cannula?
A. Hydrogen peroxide
B. Prevacuum steam
C. Ethylene oxide
D. Aqueous glutaraldehyde - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Prevacuum steam
How far MUST an unsterile person stay from a sterile field?
A. Three inches
B. Eight inches
C. One foot
D. Three feet - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. One foot
Which of the following types of incisions is most appropriate for cholecystectomy?
A. Paramedian
B. Flank
C. Suprapubic
,D. Subcostal - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Subcostal
Most surgical scrub brushes are impregnated with:
A. Disinfectants
B. Sterilants
C. Detergents
D. Antiseptics - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Antiseptics
Which of the following perioperative techniques promotes healing?
1. Achievement of hemostasis
2. Use of Montgomery straps
3. Elimination of dead space
4. Precise tissue approximation - CORRECT ANSWERS -A. 1, 3, and 4 only
Which of the following solutions is used in arthroscopy surgery?
A. Mannitol or urea
B. Formalin or Bevins
C. Lactated ringers or normal saline
D. Sorbitol or glycine - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. Lactated ringers or normal saline
The correct procedure for replacing a contaminated glove intraoperatively is to have the
circulator remove the contaminated glove then:
A. Re-scrub, re-gown, re-glove
B. Use the closed glove technique to re-glove
C. Have the circulator re-glove the team member
D. Use the open-glove technique to re-glove - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Use the
closed glove technique to re-glove
Which of the following types of instruments is a Tenaculum?
A. Retracting
B. Clamping
C. Dissecting
D. Grasping - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. Grasping
Which of the following should be available for fire safety when lasers are in use?
A. CO2 fire extinguisher
B. Smoke evacuator
C. Non-ebonized instruments
D. Sterile water or saline - CORRECT ANSWERS -D. sterile water or saline
Cleaning of instruments can be performed by:
, A. A sterrad machine
B. An autoclave
C. An automated washer
D. A steris machine - CORRECT ANSWERS -C. An automated washer
A microscope has a dust cover on it, but when it is uncovered outside the surgical suite,
the surface and lens are dusty. The BEST action for a surgical technologist to take is:
A. Clean the microscope with a disinfectant and towel and the lens with lens paper
B. Clean the entire microscope, including the lens with an OR towel and disinfectant
C. DO not clean the microscope and get another microscope
D. Do not clean the microscope because it was covered when found. - CORRECT
ANSWERS -A. Clean the microscope with a disinfectant and towel and the lens with
lens paper
Which of the following is used for drainage of the common bile duct?
A. Hickman
B. T-tube
C. Pezzer
D. Jackson-pratt - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. T-Tube
Repair of LeFort fractures is performed on which division of the skeleton?
A. Axial
B. Pectoral girdle
C. Pelvic girdle
D. Appendicular - CORRECT ANSWERS -A. Axial
Surgical dissection of the tunica vaginalis to remove a fluid-filled sac is referred to as a:
A. Spermatocelectomy
B. Hydrocelectomy
C. Orchidectomy
D. Oopherectomy - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Hydrocelectomy
A neurosurgeon would perform a craniotomy to repair premature closing of the cranial
sutures of an infant suffering from:
A. Chiari malformation
B. Craniosynostosis
C. Hydrocephalus
D. Encephalocele - CORRECT ANSWERS -B. Craniosynostosis
