ABSA SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICE TEST Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Type 2 clean-contaminated wounds.
Answer: 3-11% risk of infection Non-sterile body region entered under controlled conditions and without
unusual contamination (GI or Gu tract, biliary tract, respiratory tract, oropharynx) Minor breaks in
technique
Question 2: Type 3 Contaminated Wound.
Answer: 10-17% risk of infection Major break in sterile technique Gross spillage from gastrointestinal (GI)
tract Infected GI, urinary or biliary tract Fresh traumatic wound (through unprepped skin)
Question 3: Type 4 Dirty or Infected wounds.
Answer: Infection risk: >27% Wounds associated with perforated viscus; cross clean tissue to drain pus
Traumatic wounds with: Imbedded foreign body Delayed presentation( > 12-24 hours for face and scalp; >
hours elsewhere)
Question 4: Primary Closure (primary intention).
Answer: Wound edges are brought together so that they are adjacent to each other Example: Normal surg.
incision, well-repaired lacerations, well reduced bone fractures, healing after flap surgery
Question 5: Secondary Closure (secondary intention).
Answer: Wound is left open, and closes naturally through granulation ex. tooth extraction sockets, poorly
reduced fractures
Question 6: tertiary closure. (delayed primary closure).
Answer: wound is left open for a number of days and then closed if it found to be clean ex. healing of
wounds by use of tissue grafts, traumatic wounds
Question 7: Criteria for suture materials.
Answer:
1. Tensile strength
2. Good knot security
3. Workability in handling
4. Low tissue reactivity
5. Ability to resist bacterial infection
Page 1
,Question 8: How are sutures sized?
Answer: 3 to 12-0 Numbers without zeros indicate larger sutures, numbers followed by zeros indicate
smaller sutures
Question 9: Non-absorbable suture are used for what?
Answer:
1. Skin repair
2. when wanting removal
3. Fasica under tension
4. Vascular (blood vessel) repairs
5. Nylon
6. Prolene
7. Stainless steel
8. Silk
Question 10: When is absorbable suture used?
Answer:
1. Subcutaneous repair
2. Intraoral mucosa (including tongue)
3. Fascia not under tension
4. Vicryl
5. Monocryl
6. PDS
7. Chromic
8. Cat gut
Question 11: What are the two different types of suture material?
Answer: Monofilament Multifilament
Question 12: Monofilament.
Answer: Single strand of suture material Minimal tissue trauma Smooth tying but need more knots needed
Resists harboring organisms Nylon, monocryl, prolene, PDS
Question 13: Multifilament (braided).
Answer: Fibers are braided or twisted together More tissue resistance Easier to handle Fewer knots needed
Vicryl (braided), silk (braided), chromic (twisted)
Question 14: What are some examples of multifilament?
Answer: Vicryl, silk, chromic
Page 2
, Question 15: What are some examples of monofilament?
Answer: Nylon, monocyrl, prolene, PDS
Question 16: What are 2 basic configurations for curved needles?
Answer: 1. Cutting: cutting edge can cut through tough tissue, such as skin 2. Tapered: no cutting edge,
used for softer tissue inside the body
Question 17: Simple interrupted closure.
Answer: Most commonly used, good for shallow wounds without wound tension Place knot off to side to
reduce tension
Question 18: Continuous Closure (running sutures).
Answer: Good for hemostasis (scalp wounds) and long wounds with minimal tension
Question 19: Locking continuous.
Answer: Usedful in wounds under moderate tension or those requiring additional hemostasis
Question 20: Subcuticular.
Answer: Good for cosmetic results
Question 21: Vertical mattress.
Answer: useful in maximizing wound eversion, reducing dead space, and minimizing tension across the
wound Far far near near
Question 22: Horizontal mattress.
Answer: good for fragile skin and high tension wounds
Question 23: Percutaneous (deep) closure.
Answer: Good to close dead space and decrease wound tension
Question 24: The vessel is the uterine artery a branch of.
Answer: anterior division of the internal iliac artery
Question 25: The ovarian artery is also know as and is a branch of.
Answer: Gonal vessels or IP ligament, and is a branch of the aorta
Page 3
PRACTICE TEST Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Type 2 clean-contaminated wounds.
Answer: 3-11% risk of infection Non-sterile body region entered under controlled conditions and without
unusual contamination (GI or Gu tract, biliary tract, respiratory tract, oropharynx) Minor breaks in
technique
Question 2: Type 3 Contaminated Wound.
Answer: 10-17% risk of infection Major break in sterile technique Gross spillage from gastrointestinal (GI)
tract Infected GI, urinary or biliary tract Fresh traumatic wound (through unprepped skin)
Question 3: Type 4 Dirty or Infected wounds.
Answer: Infection risk: >27% Wounds associated with perforated viscus; cross clean tissue to drain pus
Traumatic wounds with: Imbedded foreign body Delayed presentation( > 12-24 hours for face and scalp; >
hours elsewhere)
Question 4: Primary Closure (primary intention).
Answer: Wound edges are brought together so that they are adjacent to each other Example: Normal surg.
incision, well-repaired lacerations, well reduced bone fractures, healing after flap surgery
Question 5: Secondary Closure (secondary intention).
Answer: Wound is left open, and closes naturally through granulation ex. tooth extraction sockets, poorly
reduced fractures
Question 6: tertiary closure. (delayed primary closure).
Answer: wound is left open for a number of days and then closed if it found to be clean ex. healing of
wounds by use of tissue grafts, traumatic wounds
Question 7: Criteria for suture materials.
Answer:
1. Tensile strength
2. Good knot security
3. Workability in handling
4. Low tissue reactivity
5. Ability to resist bacterial infection
Page 1
,Question 8: How are sutures sized?
Answer: 3 to 12-0 Numbers without zeros indicate larger sutures, numbers followed by zeros indicate
smaller sutures
Question 9: Non-absorbable suture are used for what?
Answer:
1. Skin repair
2. when wanting removal
3. Fasica under tension
4. Vascular (blood vessel) repairs
5. Nylon
6. Prolene
7. Stainless steel
8. Silk
Question 10: When is absorbable suture used?
Answer:
1. Subcutaneous repair
2. Intraoral mucosa (including tongue)
3. Fascia not under tension
4. Vicryl
5. Monocryl
6. PDS
7. Chromic
8. Cat gut
Question 11: What are the two different types of suture material?
Answer: Monofilament Multifilament
Question 12: Monofilament.
Answer: Single strand of suture material Minimal tissue trauma Smooth tying but need more knots needed
Resists harboring organisms Nylon, monocryl, prolene, PDS
Question 13: Multifilament (braided).
Answer: Fibers are braided or twisted together More tissue resistance Easier to handle Fewer knots needed
Vicryl (braided), silk (braided), chromic (twisted)
Question 14: What are some examples of multifilament?
Answer: Vicryl, silk, chromic
Page 2
, Question 15: What are some examples of monofilament?
Answer: Nylon, monocyrl, prolene, PDS
Question 16: What are 2 basic configurations for curved needles?
Answer: 1. Cutting: cutting edge can cut through tough tissue, such as skin 2. Tapered: no cutting edge,
used for softer tissue inside the body
Question 17: Simple interrupted closure.
Answer: Most commonly used, good for shallow wounds without wound tension Place knot off to side to
reduce tension
Question 18: Continuous Closure (running sutures).
Answer: Good for hemostasis (scalp wounds) and long wounds with minimal tension
Question 19: Locking continuous.
Answer: Usedful in wounds under moderate tension or those requiring additional hemostasis
Question 20: Subcuticular.
Answer: Good for cosmetic results
Question 21: Vertical mattress.
Answer: useful in maximizing wound eversion, reducing dead space, and minimizing tension across the
wound Far far near near
Question 22: Horizontal mattress.
Answer: good for fragile skin and high tension wounds
Question 23: Percutaneous (deep) closure.
Answer: Good to close dead space and decrease wound tension
Question 24: The vessel is the uterine artery a branch of.
Answer: anterior division of the internal iliac artery
Question 25: The ovarian artery is also know as and is a branch of.
Answer: Gonal vessels or IP ligament, and is a branch of the aorta
Page 3
