CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST
PRACTICE EXAM 1
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
a. hysterectomy
b. appendectomy
c. prostatectomy
d. varicocelectomy - Answer-b. During an appendectomy, bowel is examined and can lead to the
discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
Which of the following solutions can be used to disinfect endoscopic instruments?
a. iodophors
b. ethyl alcohol 70%
c. phenolic compounds
d. activated glutaraldehyde - Answer-d. Activated glutaraldehyde is a high-level disinfectant widely used
for disinfection of endoscopes.
Which of the following is the administration route for thrombin?
a. local infiltration
,b. topical application
c. intravenous injection
d. intramuscular injection - Answer-b. Thrombin may be applied topically, in a solution or as a powder,
but should never be introduced into a large blood vessel, because significant intravascular clotting and
death may result.
Gl0ve powder is normally wiped from the gloved hand, because it has the potential to cause
a. dehiscence
b. infections
c. granulomas
d. contamination - Answer-c. Glove powder is a sterile foreign body whose reaction with tissue can
cause granulomas.
Which of the following procedures is the removal of the entire orbital content, including the
periosteum?
a. recession
b. resection
c. evisceration
d. exenteration - Answer-d. Exenteration removes everything in the gloval orbit due to malignancies.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of infection?
a. stainless steel
b. polyglactin-910
c. plain gut
d. silk - Answer-a. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected areas, because it is non-
absorbable with indefinite tensile strength.
,When preparing the Sterrad sterilization system for use in the surgical area, which of the following
outlets must be available?
a. suction
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. electrical - Answer-d. The Sterrad sterilization system requires electricity to operated.
When can instrument counts be omitted?
a. if the incision is too small for an instrument to become buried
b. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
c. if instruments are needed in another operating room
d. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - Answer-a. The count can be deleted if significant
risk for a retained item is unlikely and falls within hospital protocols.
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist
in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia - Answer-a. These layers are the two most outer layers of the skin and are
closed together by the skin stapler.
Which of the following is the definition of instrument sterilization?
a. surgical cleaning with an antiseptic
b. manual decontamination
c. destruction of microorganisms
d. reduction of bacteria - Answer-c. Sterilization is the destruction of all microogranisms.
, When a cholecystectomy is performed, which of the following anatomical structures must be
preserved?
a. cystic duct
b. cystic vein
c. common duct
d. cystic artery - Answer-c. The common duct is preserved in order to drain bile.
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a craniotomy?
a. bayonet forceps
b. Russian forceps
c. Kelly clamp
d. angled DeBakey clamp - Answer-a. Bayonet forceps are used as the primary forceps for neurosurgical
procedures, and are used to place cottonoids and gelfoam for hemostasis.
When donning gloves using the open-gloving technique, the ungloved hand will touch the
a. outer side of the cuff of the glove
b. outer side of the sterile glove
c. cuffed edge nearest the glove palm
d. folded edge of the cuff of the glove - Answer-d. Grasp the folded edge of the cuff of the glove to
maintain sterility. The inverted cuff permits a person to touch the glove's inner side.
Which of the following is reshaped during a total hip arthroplasty?
a. fibula
b. acetabulum
c. iliac crest
d. tibia - Answer-b. The acetabulum is deepened during a total hip arthroplasty.
PRACTICE EXAM 1
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
a. hysterectomy
b. appendectomy
c. prostatectomy
d. varicocelectomy - Answer-b. During an appendectomy, bowel is examined and can lead to the
discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
Which of the following solutions can be used to disinfect endoscopic instruments?
a. iodophors
b. ethyl alcohol 70%
c. phenolic compounds
d. activated glutaraldehyde - Answer-d. Activated glutaraldehyde is a high-level disinfectant widely used
for disinfection of endoscopes.
Which of the following is the administration route for thrombin?
a. local infiltration
,b. topical application
c. intravenous injection
d. intramuscular injection - Answer-b. Thrombin may be applied topically, in a solution or as a powder,
but should never be introduced into a large blood vessel, because significant intravascular clotting and
death may result.
Gl0ve powder is normally wiped from the gloved hand, because it has the potential to cause
a. dehiscence
b. infections
c. granulomas
d. contamination - Answer-c. Glove powder is a sterile foreign body whose reaction with tissue can
cause granulomas.
Which of the following procedures is the removal of the entire orbital content, including the
periosteum?
a. recession
b. resection
c. evisceration
d. exenteration - Answer-d. Exenteration removes everything in the gloval orbit due to malignancies.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of infection?
a. stainless steel
b. polyglactin-910
c. plain gut
d. silk - Answer-a. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected areas, because it is non-
absorbable with indefinite tensile strength.
,When preparing the Sterrad sterilization system for use in the surgical area, which of the following
outlets must be available?
a. suction
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. electrical - Answer-d. The Sterrad sterilization system requires electricity to operated.
When can instrument counts be omitted?
a. if the incision is too small for an instrument to become buried
b. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
c. if instruments are needed in another operating room
d. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - Answer-a. The count can be deleted if significant
risk for a retained item is unlikely and falls within hospital protocols.
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist
in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia - Answer-a. These layers are the two most outer layers of the skin and are
closed together by the skin stapler.
Which of the following is the definition of instrument sterilization?
a. surgical cleaning with an antiseptic
b. manual decontamination
c. destruction of microorganisms
d. reduction of bacteria - Answer-c. Sterilization is the destruction of all microogranisms.
, When a cholecystectomy is performed, which of the following anatomical structures must be
preserved?
a. cystic duct
b. cystic vein
c. common duct
d. cystic artery - Answer-c. The common duct is preserved in order to drain bile.
Which of the following instruments is used for placement of cottonoid strips during a craniotomy?
a. bayonet forceps
b. Russian forceps
c. Kelly clamp
d. angled DeBakey clamp - Answer-a. Bayonet forceps are used as the primary forceps for neurosurgical
procedures, and are used to place cottonoids and gelfoam for hemostasis.
When donning gloves using the open-gloving technique, the ungloved hand will touch the
a. outer side of the cuff of the glove
b. outer side of the sterile glove
c. cuffed edge nearest the glove palm
d. folded edge of the cuff of the glove - Answer-d. Grasp the folded edge of the cuff of the glove to
maintain sterility. The inverted cuff permits a person to touch the glove's inner side.
Which of the following is reshaped during a total hip arthroplasty?
a. fibula
b. acetabulum
c. iliac crest
d. tibia - Answer-b. The acetabulum is deepened during a total hip arthroplasty.
