SURGICAL ASSISTING PRACTICE PAPER
GUIDE 2026 FULLY ACCURATE ANSWERS
◉ Which of the following are the MOST important considerations
when preventing wound infection in the surgical patient?
1. pathogen transmittal
2. portal of entry into the susceptible host
3. anesthetic options for the patient's operative process
4. invasion of the susceptible host. Answer: B. 1, 2, and 4 only
◉ Which of the following tendon autografts is MOST typically
utilized when performing ACL reconstruction?. Answer: patellar
◉ What is the normal range of red blood cells in a complete blood
count for an adult male?. Answer: 4.6 - 6.2 million/nl
◉ Which of the following organisms normally found on the skin can
cause wound infections?. Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
◉ Which of the following is the desired effect when applying a
partially threaded cancellous screw to a bone fragment
A. distraction
B. rotation
C. compression
D. subluxation. Answer: compression
, ◉ When transferring a thoracotomy patient to recovery, the chest
drainage system should be. Answer: maintained below the patient's
chest level
◉ Which of the following bones make up the pelvic girdle?
1. coccyx
2. acetabulum
3. sacrum
4. os coxae. Answer: coccyx, sacrum, os coxae
◉ During a carotic endarterectomy, the arteries are unclamped and
reclamped before arteriotomy closure is performed to. Answer: flush
free debris from the carotid
◉ Injury to which of the following arteries is commonly seen in the
temporal lobes, where the skull is the thinnest and meningeal blood
vessels are numerous, and is the usual cause of epidural hematomas?.
Answer: middle meningeal
◉ Epidural hematoma is typically caused by trauma to what artery?.
Answer: middle meningeal
◉ During arterial cannulation in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the
cannula tip must be directed into which of the following arteries?.
Answer: aorta
, ◉ Which of the following is an example of a high level disinfection
agent?
A. glutaraldehyde
B. isopropyl alcohol
C. quaternary ammonium
D. iodophor solution. Answer: glutaraldehyde
◉ A wound that is known to be infected at the time of surgery and is
left open to be closed at a later date is categorized as. Answer:
delayed primary closure
◉ first intention. Answer: Primary closure of a wound.
◉ secondary intention (granulation). Answer: secondary intention
(granulation)Allowing a wound to close on it's own.
◉ A long-term complication of a cemented total hip arthroplasty is.
Answer: loosening of the prosthesis
◉ When preforming compression hip screw fixation, the lag screw is
inserted. Answer: within 1 cm of the femoral articular surface
◉ After receiving a preoperative epidural catheter, a patient is given a
bolus of local anesthetic intraoperatively. The patient then
demonstrates signs of hypotension and complete respiratory failure.
GUIDE 2026 FULLY ACCURATE ANSWERS
◉ Which of the following are the MOST important considerations
when preventing wound infection in the surgical patient?
1. pathogen transmittal
2. portal of entry into the susceptible host
3. anesthetic options for the patient's operative process
4. invasion of the susceptible host. Answer: B. 1, 2, and 4 only
◉ Which of the following tendon autografts is MOST typically
utilized when performing ACL reconstruction?. Answer: patellar
◉ What is the normal range of red blood cells in a complete blood
count for an adult male?. Answer: 4.6 - 6.2 million/nl
◉ Which of the following organisms normally found on the skin can
cause wound infections?. Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
◉ Which of the following is the desired effect when applying a
partially threaded cancellous screw to a bone fragment
A. distraction
B. rotation
C. compression
D. subluxation. Answer: compression
, ◉ When transferring a thoracotomy patient to recovery, the chest
drainage system should be. Answer: maintained below the patient's
chest level
◉ Which of the following bones make up the pelvic girdle?
1. coccyx
2. acetabulum
3. sacrum
4. os coxae. Answer: coccyx, sacrum, os coxae
◉ During a carotic endarterectomy, the arteries are unclamped and
reclamped before arteriotomy closure is performed to. Answer: flush
free debris from the carotid
◉ Injury to which of the following arteries is commonly seen in the
temporal lobes, where the skull is the thinnest and meningeal blood
vessels are numerous, and is the usual cause of epidural hematomas?.
Answer: middle meningeal
◉ Epidural hematoma is typically caused by trauma to what artery?.
Answer: middle meningeal
◉ During arterial cannulation in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the
cannula tip must be directed into which of the following arteries?.
Answer: aorta
, ◉ Which of the following is an example of a high level disinfection
agent?
A. glutaraldehyde
B. isopropyl alcohol
C. quaternary ammonium
D. iodophor solution. Answer: glutaraldehyde
◉ A wound that is known to be infected at the time of surgery and is
left open to be closed at a later date is categorized as. Answer:
delayed primary closure
◉ first intention. Answer: Primary closure of a wound.
◉ secondary intention (granulation). Answer: secondary intention
(granulation)Allowing a wound to close on it's own.
◉ A long-term complication of a cemented total hip arthroplasty is.
Answer: loosening of the prosthesis
◉ When preforming compression hip screw fixation, the lag screw is
inserted. Answer: within 1 cm of the femoral articular surface
◉ After receiving a preoperative epidural catheter, a patient is given a
bolus of local anesthetic intraoperatively. The patient then
demonstrates signs of hypotension and complete respiratory failure.
