ABSA EXAM / AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGICAL ASSISTANT (ABSA) ACTUAL EXAM
2026/2027 PREP QUESTIONS
Questions 1–200
1. The surgical assistant is preparing for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Which action
should be prioritized during the preoperative "time out" procedure?
A) Confirm that all surgical instruments are sterilized
B) Verify the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site
C) Ensure the operating room temperature is appropriate
D) Check that the surgeon's preference card is available
Answer B: Verify the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site
Rationale: The "time out" is a critical patient safety protocol requiring verification of
correct patient, procedure, and site per Joint Commission Universal Protocol. ---
2. Which surgical instrument is most commonly used to grasp dense fascia without
causing unnecessary tissue trauma?
,A) Allis tissue forceps
B) Kocher (Ochsner) forceps
C) Babcock forceps
D) Debakey forceps
Answer B: Kocher (Ochsner) forceps
Rationale: Kocher forceps have teeth that provide a secure grip on dense fascia and
tough tissue. ---
3. The primary purpose of maintaining the sterile field throughout surgery is to:
A) Improve visibility for the surgeon
B) Reduce operating room noise
C) Minimize the risk of surgical site infection by preventing microbial contamination
D) Shorten the duration of the operation
Answer C: Minimize the risk of surgical site infection by preventing microbial
contamination
Rationale: Sterility is maintained to reduce contamination and lower infection risk. ---
4. Which layer of the abdominal wall is generally closed to provide the greatest wound
strength following a midline laparotomy?
A) Skin
B) Subcutaneous tissue
C) Fascia (Linea alba)
D) Peritoneum
Answer C: Fascia (Linea alba)
Rationale: Fascial closure provides the primary tensile strength of abdominal incisions. ---
,5. Which type of suture material is absorbed naturally through enzymatic digestion?
A) Polypropylene
B) Plain gut
C) Nylon
D) Polyester
Answer B: Plain gut
Rationale: Plain gut is an absorbable natural suture degraded by enzymatic action. ---
6. When positioning a patient for a thyroidectomy, which position provides optimal
surgical exposure while minimizing complications?
A) Supine with a roll under the knees
B) Reverse Trendelenburg with a shoulder roll
C) Prone with head fixation
D) Lateral decubitus with kidney rest
Answer B: Reverse Trendelenburg with a shoulder roll
Rationale: Reverse Trendelenburg with shoulder roll extends the neck for optimal thyroid
exposure. ---
7. The surgical assistant is retracting during an abdominal procedure. Which principle of
tissue handling should be applied?
A) Use the sharpest retractor available for best exposure
B) Apply continuous firm pressure for consistent exposure
C) Use atraumatic technique with moist sponges and gentle retraction
, D) Position retractors directly on major blood vessels
Answer C: Use atraumatic technique with moist sponges and gentle retraction
Rationale: Atraumatic tissue handling minimizes tissue damage, bleeding, and
postoperative complications. ---
8. What is the primary goal of aseptic technique?
A) To sterilize all instruments
B) To prevent contamination of the surgical site by microorganisms
C) To reduce operating room noise
D) To speed up the surgical procedure
Answer B: To prevent contamination of the surgical site by microorganisms
Rationale: Aseptic technique aims to prevent microbial contamination of the surgical
wound. ---
9. Which of the following is considered sterile?
A) The outer 1 inch of a sterile field
B) The center of a sterile field
C) A gloved hand below waist level
D) An instrument dropped on the floor
Answer B: The center of a sterile field
Rationale: Only the center of the sterile field is considered sterile; the outer 1-inch
border is non-sterile. ---
10. The ligament that connects bone to bone is called a(n):
2026/2027 PREP QUESTIONS
Questions 1–200
1. The surgical assistant is preparing for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Which action
should be prioritized during the preoperative "time out" procedure?
A) Confirm that all surgical instruments are sterilized
B) Verify the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site
C) Ensure the operating room temperature is appropriate
D) Check that the surgeon's preference card is available
Answer B: Verify the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site
Rationale: The "time out" is a critical patient safety protocol requiring verification of
correct patient, procedure, and site per Joint Commission Universal Protocol. ---
2. Which surgical instrument is most commonly used to grasp dense fascia without
causing unnecessary tissue trauma?
,A) Allis tissue forceps
B) Kocher (Ochsner) forceps
C) Babcock forceps
D) Debakey forceps
Answer B: Kocher (Ochsner) forceps
Rationale: Kocher forceps have teeth that provide a secure grip on dense fascia and
tough tissue. ---
3. The primary purpose of maintaining the sterile field throughout surgery is to:
A) Improve visibility for the surgeon
B) Reduce operating room noise
C) Minimize the risk of surgical site infection by preventing microbial contamination
D) Shorten the duration of the operation
Answer C: Minimize the risk of surgical site infection by preventing microbial
contamination
Rationale: Sterility is maintained to reduce contamination and lower infection risk. ---
4. Which layer of the abdominal wall is generally closed to provide the greatest wound
strength following a midline laparotomy?
A) Skin
B) Subcutaneous tissue
C) Fascia (Linea alba)
D) Peritoneum
Answer C: Fascia (Linea alba)
Rationale: Fascial closure provides the primary tensile strength of abdominal incisions. ---
,5. Which type of suture material is absorbed naturally through enzymatic digestion?
A) Polypropylene
B) Plain gut
C) Nylon
D) Polyester
Answer B: Plain gut
Rationale: Plain gut is an absorbable natural suture degraded by enzymatic action. ---
6. When positioning a patient for a thyroidectomy, which position provides optimal
surgical exposure while minimizing complications?
A) Supine with a roll under the knees
B) Reverse Trendelenburg with a shoulder roll
C) Prone with head fixation
D) Lateral decubitus with kidney rest
Answer B: Reverse Trendelenburg with a shoulder roll
Rationale: Reverse Trendelenburg with shoulder roll extends the neck for optimal thyroid
exposure. ---
7. The surgical assistant is retracting during an abdominal procedure. Which principle of
tissue handling should be applied?
A) Use the sharpest retractor available for best exposure
B) Apply continuous firm pressure for consistent exposure
C) Use atraumatic technique with moist sponges and gentle retraction
, D) Position retractors directly on major blood vessels
Answer C: Use atraumatic technique with moist sponges and gentle retraction
Rationale: Atraumatic tissue handling minimizes tissue damage, bleeding, and
postoperative complications. ---
8. What is the primary goal of aseptic technique?
A) To sterilize all instruments
B) To prevent contamination of the surgical site by microorganisms
C) To reduce operating room noise
D) To speed up the surgical procedure
Answer B: To prevent contamination of the surgical site by microorganisms
Rationale: Aseptic technique aims to prevent microbial contamination of the surgical
wound. ---
9. Which of the following is considered sterile?
A) The outer 1 inch of a sterile field
B) The center of a sterile field
C) A gloved hand below waist level
D) An instrument dropped on the floor
Answer B: The center of a sterile field
Rationale: Only the center of the sterile field is considered sterile; the outer 1-inch
border is non-sterile. ---
10. The ligament that connects bone to bone is called a(n):
