AST Practice Exam 4 UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. What is used to retract the spermatic cord during an inguinal herniorraphy? a. Skin hook b.
Penrose drain c. Vessel loops d. Umbilical tapes - CORRECT ANSWER - Penrose drain
2. Why is an indwelling Foley catheter placed prior to a hysterectomy? a. Record fluid intake b.
Avoid injury to bladder c. Distend bladder d. Demonstrate ureteral patency - CORRECT
ANSWER - Avoid injury to bladder
3. Which of the following scissors is the best choice for extending an arterial incision? a.
Metzenbaum b. Jorgenson c. Iris d. Potts-smith - CORRECT ANSWER - Potts-smith
4. Which of the following is used to stain the cervix for a Schiller's test? a. Lugol's solution b.
Indigo carmind c. Methylene blue d. Acetic acid - CORRECT ANSWER - Lugol's solution
5. Which of the following arises from the left ventricle of the heart? a. Ascending aorta b.
Pulmonary vein c. Descending aorta d. Pulmonary artery - CORRECT ANSWER -
Ascending aorta
6. What method is used to confirm that items have been exposed to the sterilization process but
sterility is not guaranteed? a. Mechanical b. Biological c. Chemical d. Bowie-dick - CORRECT
ANSWER - Chemical
7. Why would the hair of a patient undergoing craniotomy be bagged labeled and saved? a. To
donate to cancer patients b. In case of need for future genetic testing c. It is patient property d.
Prevent post-op surgical site infection - CORRECT ANSWER - It is patient property
8. When preparing a double basin for sterilization the: a. Basins should be separated by a porous
absorbent towel b. Sponges should be placed in the top basin c. Wrapped package should be laid
flat on the shelf of the sterilizing cart d. Bottom basin should contain a residual of distilled water
- CORRECT ANSWER - Basins should be separated by a porous absorbent towel
,9. Which structure during a total hip arhtroplasty, requires intramedullary reaming prior to
placement of a prosthesis? a. Femoral canal b. Tibial plateau c. Acetabular fossa d. Greater
trochanter - CORRECT ANSWER - Femoral canal
10. Which of the following is the least restrictive form of credentialing? a. Certification b.
Licensure c. Registration d. Accreditation - CORRECT ANSWER - Registration
11. What drug classification is Demerol? a. Dilator b. Analgesic c. Sedative d. Vasoconstrictor -
CORRECT ANSWER - Analgesic
12. What should be transported to the PACU with a patient who underwent a thyroidectomy? a.
Tracheotomy tray b. Clean stent dressing c. Extra penrose drain d. Antiembolic stockings -
CORRECT ANSWER - Tracheotomy tray
13. What is the chemical abbreviation for sodium chloride? a. Fe b. Hg c. NaCl d. H20 -
CORRECT ANSWER - NaCl
14. Which organelle is responsible for packaging of proteins? a. Golgi complex b. Mitochondria
c. Nucleus d. Robosome - CORRECT ANSWER - Golgi complex
16. What types of treatment does a patient authorize when signing a general consent form? a.
Only for receiving general anesthesia b. Invasive surgical procedures c. Receiving experimental
drugs d. All routine treatments or procedures - CORRECT ANSWER - All routine
treatments or procedures
17. Which medication can be used as a topical jelly during cystoscopy procedures? a.
Bupivacaine b. Xylocaine c. Sensorcaine d. Procaine - CORRECT ANSWER - Xylocaine
18. Which of the following is a primary postoperative complication of a carotid endarterectomy?
a. Failure of graft b. Pulmonary embolus c. Penumonia d. Stroke - CORRECT ANSWER -
Stroke
, 20. When is it acceptable to open surgical dressing sponges? a. After first count b. After skin
incision c. After final count d. After closure of cavity - CORRECT ANSWER - After final
count
21. What is the correct procedure to follow when a sterilized rigid instrument container is opened
and condensation is observed? a. Don't use; return to sterile processing department b. Let
container air dry before use c. Dry out with a sterile towl before using d. Use it; water droplets
are sterile - CORRECT ANSWER - Don't use; return to sterile processing department
22. Which method od sterilization requires an aeration cycle? a. Ionizing radiation b. EtO c.
Peracetic acid d. Hydrogen peroxide plasma - CORRECT ANSWER - EtO
23. Elevated IOP in a glaucoma patient is a result of excess: a. Vitreous humor b. Aqueous humor
c. CSF d. RBC - CORRECT ANSWER - Aqueous humor
24. Where should the grounding pad be placed on a patient undergoing a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy who has a right hip prosthesis? a. Left anterior thigh b. Right posterior thigh c.
Lower back d. Upper abdomen - CORRECT ANSWER - Left anterior thigh
26. The trendelenburg position is often used for surgery on the: a. Head and neck b. Lower
abdomen and pelvis c. Lower back and hips d. Knee or thigh - CORRECT ANSWER -
Lower abdomen and pelvis
27. The large artery that arises from the left side of the aortic arch and descends into the arm is
the: a. Brachiocephalic b. Coronary c. Subclavian d. Axillary - CORRECT ANSWER -
Subclavian
28. Lesions in which part of the brain may affect balance and coordination? a. Limbic system b.
Cerebral cortex c. Cerebellum d. Medula - CORRECT ANSWER - Cerebellum
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. What is used to retract the spermatic cord during an inguinal herniorraphy? a. Skin hook b.
Penrose drain c. Vessel loops d. Umbilical tapes - CORRECT ANSWER - Penrose drain
2. Why is an indwelling Foley catheter placed prior to a hysterectomy? a. Record fluid intake b.
Avoid injury to bladder c. Distend bladder d. Demonstrate ureteral patency - CORRECT
ANSWER - Avoid injury to bladder
3. Which of the following scissors is the best choice for extending an arterial incision? a.
Metzenbaum b. Jorgenson c. Iris d. Potts-smith - CORRECT ANSWER - Potts-smith
4. Which of the following is used to stain the cervix for a Schiller's test? a. Lugol's solution b.
Indigo carmind c. Methylene blue d. Acetic acid - CORRECT ANSWER - Lugol's solution
5. Which of the following arises from the left ventricle of the heart? a. Ascending aorta b.
Pulmonary vein c. Descending aorta d. Pulmonary artery - CORRECT ANSWER -
Ascending aorta
6. What method is used to confirm that items have been exposed to the sterilization process but
sterility is not guaranteed? a. Mechanical b. Biological c. Chemical d. Bowie-dick - CORRECT
ANSWER - Chemical
7. Why would the hair of a patient undergoing craniotomy be bagged labeled and saved? a. To
donate to cancer patients b. In case of need for future genetic testing c. It is patient property d.
Prevent post-op surgical site infection - CORRECT ANSWER - It is patient property
8. When preparing a double basin for sterilization the: a. Basins should be separated by a porous
absorbent towel b. Sponges should be placed in the top basin c. Wrapped package should be laid
flat on the shelf of the sterilizing cart d. Bottom basin should contain a residual of distilled water
- CORRECT ANSWER - Basins should be separated by a porous absorbent towel
,9. Which structure during a total hip arhtroplasty, requires intramedullary reaming prior to
placement of a prosthesis? a. Femoral canal b. Tibial plateau c. Acetabular fossa d. Greater
trochanter - CORRECT ANSWER - Femoral canal
10. Which of the following is the least restrictive form of credentialing? a. Certification b.
Licensure c. Registration d. Accreditation - CORRECT ANSWER - Registration
11. What drug classification is Demerol? a. Dilator b. Analgesic c. Sedative d. Vasoconstrictor -
CORRECT ANSWER - Analgesic
12. What should be transported to the PACU with a patient who underwent a thyroidectomy? a.
Tracheotomy tray b. Clean stent dressing c. Extra penrose drain d. Antiembolic stockings -
CORRECT ANSWER - Tracheotomy tray
13. What is the chemical abbreviation for sodium chloride? a. Fe b. Hg c. NaCl d. H20 -
CORRECT ANSWER - NaCl
14. Which organelle is responsible for packaging of proteins? a. Golgi complex b. Mitochondria
c. Nucleus d. Robosome - CORRECT ANSWER - Golgi complex
16. What types of treatment does a patient authorize when signing a general consent form? a.
Only for receiving general anesthesia b. Invasive surgical procedures c. Receiving experimental
drugs d. All routine treatments or procedures - CORRECT ANSWER - All routine
treatments or procedures
17. Which medication can be used as a topical jelly during cystoscopy procedures? a.
Bupivacaine b. Xylocaine c. Sensorcaine d. Procaine - CORRECT ANSWER - Xylocaine
18. Which of the following is a primary postoperative complication of a carotid endarterectomy?
a. Failure of graft b. Pulmonary embolus c. Penumonia d. Stroke - CORRECT ANSWER -
Stroke
, 20. When is it acceptable to open surgical dressing sponges? a. After first count b. After skin
incision c. After final count d. After closure of cavity - CORRECT ANSWER - After final
count
21. What is the correct procedure to follow when a sterilized rigid instrument container is opened
and condensation is observed? a. Don't use; return to sterile processing department b. Let
container air dry before use c. Dry out with a sterile towl before using d. Use it; water droplets
are sterile - CORRECT ANSWER - Don't use; return to sterile processing department
22. Which method od sterilization requires an aeration cycle? a. Ionizing radiation b. EtO c.
Peracetic acid d. Hydrogen peroxide plasma - CORRECT ANSWER - EtO
23. Elevated IOP in a glaucoma patient is a result of excess: a. Vitreous humor b. Aqueous humor
c. CSF d. RBC - CORRECT ANSWER - Aqueous humor
24. Where should the grounding pad be placed on a patient undergoing a laparoscopic
cholecystectomy who has a right hip prosthesis? a. Left anterior thigh b. Right posterior thigh c.
Lower back d. Upper abdomen - CORRECT ANSWER - Left anterior thigh
26. The trendelenburg position is often used for surgery on the: a. Head and neck b. Lower
abdomen and pelvis c. Lower back and hips d. Knee or thigh - CORRECT ANSWER -
Lower abdomen and pelvis
27. The large artery that arises from the left side of the aortic arch and descends into the arm is
the: a. Brachiocephalic b. Coronary c. Subclavian d. Axillary - CORRECT ANSWER -
Subclavian
28. Lesions in which part of the brain may affect balance and coordination? a. Limbic system b.
Cerebral cortex c. Cerebellum d. Medula - CORRECT ANSWER - Cerebellum
