AST Certification Practice exam with
correct answers 2025/2026
A 3-year-old child presents with hypertension, hematuria, and abdominal enlargement. The
patient has a history of urinary tract abnormalities, and Wilms' Tumor is suspected. Which of
the following procedures should a surgical technologist prepare to perform?
A. nephrectomy
B. polypectomy
C. nephroblastoma
D. oligodendroma - correct answersC
A blood transfusion is refused by a 17-year-old patient's parent. A large amount of blood is lost
during a procedure and the surgeon orders a transfusion to save the patient's life. Which of the
following tort laws has been violated?
A. assault
B. malpractice
C. negligence
D. battery - correct answersB
A hammertoe deformity which has caused a contracture at the proximal interphalangeal joint
can be corrected by performing which of the following procedures?
,A. extensor tenotomy
B. flexor tenotomy
C. bunionectomy
D. joint arthrotomy - correct answersB
A hemostatic device that uses no thermal electrical energy and creates an immediate cool
coagulum at the cellular level is the
A. bi-polar cautery forceps.
B. harmonic scalpel.
C. monopolar cautery pencil.
D. Argon Beam coagulator. - correct answersB
A Javid or Argyle shunt is used during which of the following surgical procedures?
A. coronary artery bypass graft
B. femoral popliteal bypass
C. carotid endarterectomy
D. creation of AV fistula - correct answersC
A laminectomy is accomplished by which of the following types of approach?
A. anterior
B. posterior
C. transabdominal
,D. cranial - correct answersB
A local medication containing epinephrine may be chosen for which of the following reasons?
A. prolong anesthetic effect
B. relax smooth muscles
C. stop hemorrhage
D. stimulates vasodilation - correct answersA
A minor break in sterile technique would have which of the following wound classifications?
A. Class I
B. Class II
C. Class III
D. Class IV - correct answersB
A patient is hospitalized for third degree burns and contracts a nosocomial deep tissue infection.
Which of the following microorganisms is MOST likely the cause of the infection?
A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Bacillus cereus
C. Staphylococcus epidermis
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - correct answersD
A patient returns to the operating room for a laparotomy dehiscence. Which of the following
may have caused the tissue breakdown?
I. Skin staples were placed too close together.
, II. A running PDS suture was used too close to the abdomen and it broke.
III. The wound edges were macerated during the laparotomy.
IV. An electrocautery pencil was used and compromised the blood supply.
A. I, II, and III only
B. I, II, and IV only
C. I, III, and IV only
D. II, III, and IV only - correct answersA
A patient scheduled for a Lugol's test is suspected of having which of the following cancers?
A. vulvar
B. uterine
C. ovarian
D. cervical - correct answersD
A patient weighs 109 kg. What is the patient's weight in pounds?
A. 210
B. 220
C. 230
D. 240 - correct answersD
A penile prosthesis is inserted to treat which of the following pathological conditions?
A. benign penectomy
correct answers 2025/2026
A 3-year-old child presents with hypertension, hematuria, and abdominal enlargement. The
patient has a history of urinary tract abnormalities, and Wilms' Tumor is suspected. Which of
the following procedures should a surgical technologist prepare to perform?
A. nephrectomy
B. polypectomy
C. nephroblastoma
D. oligodendroma - correct answersC
A blood transfusion is refused by a 17-year-old patient's parent. A large amount of blood is lost
during a procedure and the surgeon orders a transfusion to save the patient's life. Which of the
following tort laws has been violated?
A. assault
B. malpractice
C. negligence
D. battery - correct answersB
A hammertoe deformity which has caused a contracture at the proximal interphalangeal joint
can be corrected by performing which of the following procedures?
,A. extensor tenotomy
B. flexor tenotomy
C. bunionectomy
D. joint arthrotomy - correct answersB
A hemostatic device that uses no thermal electrical energy and creates an immediate cool
coagulum at the cellular level is the
A. bi-polar cautery forceps.
B. harmonic scalpel.
C. monopolar cautery pencil.
D. Argon Beam coagulator. - correct answersB
A Javid or Argyle shunt is used during which of the following surgical procedures?
A. coronary artery bypass graft
B. femoral popliteal bypass
C. carotid endarterectomy
D. creation of AV fistula - correct answersC
A laminectomy is accomplished by which of the following types of approach?
A. anterior
B. posterior
C. transabdominal
,D. cranial - correct answersB
A local medication containing epinephrine may be chosen for which of the following reasons?
A. prolong anesthetic effect
B. relax smooth muscles
C. stop hemorrhage
D. stimulates vasodilation - correct answersA
A minor break in sterile technique would have which of the following wound classifications?
A. Class I
B. Class II
C. Class III
D. Class IV - correct answersB
A patient is hospitalized for third degree burns and contracts a nosocomial deep tissue infection.
Which of the following microorganisms is MOST likely the cause of the infection?
A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Bacillus cereus
C. Staphylococcus epidermis
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - correct answersD
A patient returns to the operating room for a laparotomy dehiscence. Which of the following
may have caused the tissue breakdown?
I. Skin staples were placed too close together.
, II. A running PDS suture was used too close to the abdomen and it broke.
III. The wound edges were macerated during the laparotomy.
IV. An electrocautery pencil was used and compromised the blood supply.
A. I, II, and III only
B. I, II, and IV only
C. I, III, and IV only
D. II, III, and IV only - correct answersA
A patient scheduled for a Lugol's test is suspected of having which of the following cancers?
A. vulvar
B. uterine
C. ovarian
D. cervical - correct answersD
A patient weighs 109 kg. What is the patient's weight in pounds?
A. 210
B. 220
C. 230
D. 240 - correct answersD
A penile prosthesis is inserted to treat which of the following pathological conditions?
A. benign penectomy
