CST CERTIFICATION| ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED VERIFIED
ANSWERS (100% CORRECT ANSWERS) |UPDATED VERSION |/ALREADY GRADE
A+
1.Which of the following is a sign of cardiac arrest? A. edema B.convulsion C. cyanosis D. hypertension -
ANSWER c
2.While being transferred from the stretcher to the operating room bed, the patient expresses fear of
not awakening from anesthesia. The surgical technologist should
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns. - ANSWER d
3.During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
A. esophagectomy
B. appendectomy
C. prostatectomy
D. varicocelectomy - ANSWER B. During an appendectomy, the bowel is examined, which can lead to the
discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
4.Which of the following solutions is used to identify diseased areas for a cold conization of the cervix?
A. Lugol's
B. fluorescein
C. methylene blue
D. Isovue - ANSWER A. Lugol's is a strong iodine solution used to identify neoplasms of the cervix in
gynecological surgery.
,5.following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon has just closed the peritoneum. Which of the following
layers will be sutured next?
A. fascia
B. muscle
C. subcutaneous
D. subcuticular - ANSWER A. Abdominal wounds are closed from inner to outer in the following order:
peritoneum, fascia, subcutaneous, subcuticular, and skin layers.
6.A patient undergoing a procedure while under general anesthesia begins to experience muscle rigidity,
followed by tachycardia, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Which of the
following is the patient experiencing?
A. septic shock
B. malignant hyperthermia
C. cardiopulmonary arrest
D. pulmonary embolism - ANSWER B. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare physiological response to all
volatile anesthetic agents and succinylcholine which results in a severe hypermetabolism. Symptoms
include extremely high body temperature, tachycardia, tachypnea, and muscle rigidity, as well as
metabolic/respiratory acidosis.
7.Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer - ANSWER c
8.During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a hole in his glove. Which of the following should be
done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique.
,D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove. - ANSWER b
9.Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence that involves physiologic or psychologic injury or
death?
A. unintentional tort
B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice - ANSWER b
10.The tissue that covers bones and provides movement to the skeletal system is
A. nerve.
B. cartilage.
C. muscle.
D. ligament. - ANSWER C. Muscles are tissue that cover bone and provide movement to the skeletal
system.
11.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
12.A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure and a blood transfusion
will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses and will not consent to a blood transfusion, but
the patient states that she wants the transfusion. The operating room staff reports this to the nurse
manager. Which of the following is the BEST course of action now? A. The physician or nurse manager
should contact the hospital's clergy to provide an intervention.
B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give consent before she can
receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor, she cannot make health
care decisions for herself.
, D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that legal
counsel becomes involved. - ANSWER D. Since the patient is 15 and may understand the consequences
of her actions, the physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request
that legal counsel becomes involved. They will be able to advise the operating room staff as to the best
course of action considering all of the legal and ethical implications.
13.A surgical technologist counts only 9 sponges in a pack on the initial count. After recounting the
sponges, it is confirmed that there are only 9 sponges in the pack. Which of the following is the
appropriate course of action?
A. Change the count sheet to match the initial count and use the sponges from the current package.
B. Leave the current package on the surgical field; document the problem; open a new package; recount.
C. Remove the current package from the surgical field, but not the operating room; document the
problem; open a new package; recount.
D. Remove the current package from the operating room; document the problem; open a new package;
and recount. - ANSWER C. If a package of sponges contains an incorrect number, it should immediately
be handed off the sterile field and documented. It should be bagged, labeled as incorrect, and placed in
a remote location in the OR. A new package of sponges should be opened and counted.
14.When utilizing a laparoscopic set-up, potential hazards associated with the equipment include
A. non-ionizing radiation.
B. nitrogen embolus.
C. pneumoperitoneum.
D. fiberoptic beam fire. - ANSWER D. The intense fiberoptic beam can ignite the patient's drapes and
cause fires. Therefore, cameras should be turned off when not in use and should be appropriately placed
during procedures.
15.A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The patient has a history of DVT
and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the following should be done to ensure a clot does not
develop?
A. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively.
B. Continue current anticoagulation therapy.
C. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities.
D. Draw a PT-PTT and send the patient to surgery. - ANSWER C. Sequential compression devices are
clinically proven to help in the prevention of developing clots.
ANSWERS (100% CORRECT ANSWERS) |UPDATED VERSION |/ALREADY GRADE
A+
1.Which of the following is a sign of cardiac arrest? A. edema B.convulsion C. cyanosis D. hypertension -
ANSWER c
2.While being transferred from the stretcher to the operating room bed, the patient expresses fear of
not awakening from anesthesia. The surgical technologist should
A. proceed with the transfer and disregard patient comments.
B. explain the action of the anesthetic agent.
C. reassure the patient that the anesthetic is safe.
D. have the anesthesia care provider address the patient's concerns. - ANSWER d
3.During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
A. esophagectomy
B. appendectomy
C. prostatectomy
D. varicocelectomy - ANSWER B. During an appendectomy, the bowel is examined, which can lead to the
discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
4.Which of the following solutions is used to identify diseased areas for a cold conization of the cervix?
A. Lugol's
B. fluorescein
C. methylene blue
D. Isovue - ANSWER A. Lugol's is a strong iodine solution used to identify neoplasms of the cervix in
gynecological surgery.
,5.following an abdominal surgery, the surgeon has just closed the peritoneum. Which of the following
layers will be sutured next?
A. fascia
B. muscle
C. subcutaneous
D. subcuticular - ANSWER A. Abdominal wounds are closed from inner to outer in the following order:
peritoneum, fascia, subcutaneous, subcuticular, and skin layers.
6.A patient undergoing a procedure while under general anesthesia begins to experience muscle rigidity,
followed by tachycardia, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, and cardiac dysrhythmias. Which of the
following is the patient experiencing?
A. septic shock
B. malignant hyperthermia
C. cardiopulmonary arrest
D. pulmonary embolism - ANSWER B. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare physiological response to all
volatile anesthetic agents and succinylcholine which results in a severe hypermetabolism. Symptoms
include extremely high body temperature, tachycardia, tachypnea, and muscle rigidity, as well as
metabolic/respiratory acidosis.
7.Which of the following rongeurs is used to expand the antrostomy in a Caldwell-Luc procedure?
A. Cushing
B. Bethune
C. Kerrison
D. Stille-Luer - ANSWER c
8.During a procedure, a surgical technologist notices a hole in his glove. Which of the following should be
done next?
A. Continue the case.
B. Change the glove using the open-gloving technique.
C. Change the glove using the closed-gloving technique.
,D. Break scrub, rescrub, gown and glove. - ANSWER b
9.Which of the following is an unexpected occurrence that involves physiologic or psychologic injury or
death?
A. unintentional tort
B. sentinel event
C. negligence
D. malpractice - ANSWER b
10.The tissue that covers bones and provides movement to the skeletal system is
A. nerve.
B. cartilage.
C. muscle.
D. ligament. - ANSWER C. Muscles are tissue that cover bone and provide movement to the skeletal
system.
11.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
12.A 15-year-old girl with anemia will be undergoing an exploratory procedure and a blood transfusion
will be necessary. The parents are Jehovah's Witnesses and will not consent to a blood transfusion, but
the patient states that she wants the transfusion. The operating room staff reports this to the nurse
manager. Which of the following is the BEST course of action now? A. The physician or nurse manager
should contact the hospital's clergy to provide an intervention.
B. The operating room staff should inform the patient that her parents must give consent before she can
receive the transfusion.
C. The operating room staff should inform the patient that since she is a minor, she cannot make health
care decisions for herself.
, D. The physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request that legal
counsel becomes involved. - ANSWER D. Since the patient is 15 and may understand the consequences
of her actions, the physician or nurse manager should contact the hospital's administration to request
that legal counsel becomes involved. They will be able to advise the operating room staff as to the best
course of action considering all of the legal and ethical implications.
13.A surgical technologist counts only 9 sponges in a pack on the initial count. After recounting the
sponges, it is confirmed that there are only 9 sponges in the pack. Which of the following is the
appropriate course of action?
A. Change the count sheet to match the initial count and use the sponges from the current package.
B. Leave the current package on the surgical field; document the problem; open a new package; recount.
C. Remove the current package from the surgical field, but not the operating room; document the
problem; open a new package; recount.
D. Remove the current package from the operating room; document the problem; open a new package;
and recount. - ANSWER C. If a package of sponges contains an incorrect number, it should immediately
be handed off the sterile field and documented. It should be bagged, labeled as incorrect, and placed in
a remote location in the OR. A new package of sponges should be opened and counted.
14.When utilizing a laparoscopic set-up, potential hazards associated with the equipment include
A. non-ionizing radiation.
B. nitrogen embolus.
C. pneumoperitoneum.
D. fiberoptic beam fire. - ANSWER D. The intense fiberoptic beam can ignite the patient's drapes and
cause fires. Therefore, cameras should be turned off when not in use and should be appropriately placed
during procedures.
15.A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The patient has a history of DVT
and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the following should be done to ensure a clot does not
develop?
A. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively.
B. Continue current anticoagulation therapy.
C. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities.
D. Draw a PT-PTT and send the patient to surgery. - ANSWER C. Sequential compression devices are
clinically proven to help in the prevention of developing clots.
