NCCT SURGICAL TECH PRACTICE EXAM
PRE-SURGICAL CARE AND
PREPARATION 100 QUESTIONS
VERIFIED ANSWERS | NEWEST
2026/2027
PATIENT POSITIONING AND EQUIPMENT SETUP
(QUESTIONS 1–20)
1. Which of the following positioning equipment is needed when
preparing to do a posterior spinal fusion of the T3–L2 range?
A) Mayfield head frame
B) Wilson frame
C) Bean bag
D) Fracture table
Rationale: A Wilson frame is used for posterior spinal surgery to allow
the abdomen to hang free, reducing venous pressure and minimizing
intraoperative blood loss. A Mayfield head frame is used for cranial
procedures; a bean bag is used for lateral positioning; a fracture table
is used for orthopedic trauma cases.
,2. The surgical technologist is preparing for a laparoscopic assisted
vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). Which of the following equipment is
needed for the procedure?
A) Endoscopic retrieval bag
B) Harmonic scalpel
C) Endoscopic GIA stapler
D) Alexis retractor
Rationale: A harmonic scalpel is commonly used in LAVH for
dissection and hemostasis. Endoscopic retrieval bags are used for
specimen removal; endoscopic GIA staplers are used for bowel
resections; Alexis retractors are used for wound retraction in open
procedures.
3. When preparing the room for a total knee arthroplasty, which of
the following items is necessary to occlude blood flow during the
surgical procedure?
A) Coban
B) Stockinette
C) Tourniquet
D) Esmarch
Rationale: A pneumatic tourniquet is used in total knee arthroplasty
to occlude blood flow to the surgical site, creating a bloodless field.
Coban and stockinette are used for wound dressing and skin
,protection; an Esmarch bandage is used to exsanguinate the limb
before tourniquet inflation.
4. Which of the following equipment is essential for a VATS (video-
assisted thoracoscopic surgery) procedure? (Select the three (3)
correct answers.)
A) Wilson frame
B) Bean bag
C) Video tower
D) Jackson table
E) Pillows
Rationale: VATS requires lateral positioning with a bean bag for
stability, a video tower for endoscopic visualization, and pillows for
patient positioning and pressure point protection. A Wilson frame is
used for posterior spinal surgery; a Jackson table is used for spine and
trauma surgery.
5. The surgeon is starting an exploratory laparotomy on an elderly
female patient with a very large rotund abdomen. Which of the
following supplies should the surgical technologist have available
in the room?
, A) Laparoscopic instruments and a Bookwalter retractor
B) Bowel instrumentation and a Bookwalter retractor
C) Laparoscopic instruments and a Balfour retractor
D) Bowel instrumentation and a Balfour retractor
Rationale: An exploratory laparotomy with potential bowel
involvement requires bowel instrumentation. A Bookwalter retractor is
a self-retaining retractor system that provides excellent exposure for
large abdominal incisions, especially in patients with a large
abdomen. A Balfour retractor is used for gynecological procedures.
6. Which of the following equipment should the surgical
technologist have available for an open reduction internal fixation
(ORIF) case? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A) Bovie
B) Harmonic scalpel
C) Pneumatic tourniquet
D) Light source
E) X-rayable operating bed
Rationale: ORIF procedures require a Bovie (electrosurgical unit) for
hemostasis, a pneumatic tourniquet for a bloodless field, and an X-
rayable operating bed for intraoperative imaging. A harmonic scalpel
and light source are typically used in laparoscopic procedures, not
ORIF.
PRE-SURGICAL CARE AND
PREPARATION 100 QUESTIONS
VERIFIED ANSWERS | NEWEST
2026/2027
PATIENT POSITIONING AND EQUIPMENT SETUP
(QUESTIONS 1–20)
1. Which of the following positioning equipment is needed when
preparing to do a posterior spinal fusion of the T3–L2 range?
A) Mayfield head frame
B) Wilson frame
C) Bean bag
D) Fracture table
Rationale: A Wilson frame is used for posterior spinal surgery to allow
the abdomen to hang free, reducing venous pressure and minimizing
intraoperative blood loss. A Mayfield head frame is used for cranial
procedures; a bean bag is used for lateral positioning; a fracture table
is used for orthopedic trauma cases.
,2. The surgical technologist is preparing for a laparoscopic assisted
vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). Which of the following equipment is
needed for the procedure?
A) Endoscopic retrieval bag
B) Harmonic scalpel
C) Endoscopic GIA stapler
D) Alexis retractor
Rationale: A harmonic scalpel is commonly used in LAVH for
dissection and hemostasis. Endoscopic retrieval bags are used for
specimen removal; endoscopic GIA staplers are used for bowel
resections; Alexis retractors are used for wound retraction in open
procedures.
3. When preparing the room for a total knee arthroplasty, which of
the following items is necessary to occlude blood flow during the
surgical procedure?
A) Coban
B) Stockinette
C) Tourniquet
D) Esmarch
Rationale: A pneumatic tourniquet is used in total knee arthroplasty
to occlude blood flow to the surgical site, creating a bloodless field.
Coban and stockinette are used for wound dressing and skin
,protection; an Esmarch bandage is used to exsanguinate the limb
before tourniquet inflation.
4. Which of the following equipment is essential for a VATS (video-
assisted thoracoscopic surgery) procedure? (Select the three (3)
correct answers.)
A) Wilson frame
B) Bean bag
C) Video tower
D) Jackson table
E) Pillows
Rationale: VATS requires lateral positioning with a bean bag for
stability, a video tower for endoscopic visualization, and pillows for
patient positioning and pressure point protection. A Wilson frame is
used for posterior spinal surgery; a Jackson table is used for spine and
trauma surgery.
5. The surgeon is starting an exploratory laparotomy on an elderly
female patient with a very large rotund abdomen. Which of the
following supplies should the surgical technologist have available
in the room?
, A) Laparoscopic instruments and a Bookwalter retractor
B) Bowel instrumentation and a Bookwalter retractor
C) Laparoscopic instruments and a Balfour retractor
D) Bowel instrumentation and a Balfour retractor
Rationale: An exploratory laparotomy with potential bowel
involvement requires bowel instrumentation. A Bookwalter retractor is
a self-retaining retractor system that provides excellent exposure for
large abdominal incisions, especially in patients with a large
abdomen. A Balfour retractor is used for gynecological procedures.
6. Which of the following equipment should the surgical
technologist have available for an open reduction internal fixation
(ORIF) case? (Select the three (3) correct answers.)
A) Bovie
B) Harmonic scalpel
C) Pneumatic tourniquet
D) Light source
E) X-rayable operating bed
Rationale: ORIF procedures require a Bovie (electrosurgical unit) for
hemostasis, a pneumatic tourniquet for a bloodless field, and an X-
rayable operating bed for intraoperative imaging. A harmonic scalpel
and light source are typically used in laparoscopic procedures, not
ORIF.
