AST CERTIFICATION CORE EXAM SET QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔When preparing for a male open inguinal herniorrhaphy, a surgical technologist
should make sure which of the following items is available?
A. 1/2 inch Penrose
B. balloon expander
C. Fogarty catheter
D. 10 Fr. Robinson - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following is used to suture in a graft during a carotid endarterectomy?
A. 6-0 Prolene
B. 5-0 chromic
C. 4-0 silk
D. 3-0 Vicryl - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following sutures weakens and frays from excessive handling with
rubber gloves?
A. polyglactin
B. chromic
C. silk
D. nylon - ✔✔B
✔✔A laminectomy is accomplished by which of the following types of approach?
A. anterior
B. posterior
C. transabdominal
D. cranial - ✔✔B
✔✔Recapping a sterile solution is
A. always acceptable.
B. only allowed in an emergent situation.
C. permissible if contents are to be reused.
D. never allowed unless for disposal. - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following vessels is MOST commonly used in a femoropopliteal
bypass?
A. radial artery
B. femoral artery
,C. saphenous vein
D. basilic vein - ✔✔C
✔✔Which of the following dressings immobilizes an area with added support, eliminates
dead space, and reduces the chance of edema or the formation of a hematoma?
A. rigid
B. wet-to-wet
C. bolster
D. pressure - ✔✔D
✔✔To contain any biohazardous material when removing a drape after a procedure, the
drape should be
A. folded.
B. secured.
C. crumpled.
D. rolled. - ✔✔D
✔✔When passing local anesthetic during a procedure, which of the following should
read aloud the drug name and strength?
A. surgeon
B. surgical technologist
C. first assistant
D. anesthesiologist - ✔✔A
✔✔A patient is hospitalized for third degree burns and contracts a nosocomial deep
tissue infection. Which of the following microorganisms is MOST likely the cause of the
infection?
A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Bacillus cereus
C. Staphylococcus epidermis
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following types of suture would MOST likely be used to repair an
abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A. polyglactin
B. polydioxanone
C. poliglecaprone
D. polypropylene - ✔✔D
, ✔✔After the initial incision is made for an appendectomy, a surgical technologist should
anticipate the next item needed is
A. blunt forceps.
B. Mayo scissors.
C. an electrosurgical pencil.
D. a Weitlaner retractor. - ✔✔C
✔✔When transferring an immobile or unconscious patient from a stretcher to an
operating room table, the MINIMUM number of people required for the transfer is
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5 - ✔✔C
✔✔Pressure on the downside shoulder of a patient in the lateral position is alleviated by
shifting the upper arm and shoulder slightly forward and placing a foam or gel pad under
the flank area. Which of the following will be avoided using this positioning technique?
A. retroclavicular compression
B. lumbosacral nerve root impingement
C. ulnar nerve compression
D. subacromial impingement - ✔✔A
✔✔During a surgical procedure, a patient requires a blood transfusion. After the
transfusion is initiated, the patient's urinary output ceases. This is indicative of
A. malignant hyperthermia.
B. a hemorrhage.
C. a hemolytic reaction.
D. anaphylaxis. - ✔✔C
✔✔A local medication containing epinephrine may be chosen for which of the following
reasons?
A. prolong anesthetic effect
B. relax smooth muscles
C. stop hemorrhage
D. stimulates vasodilation - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following drugs should be administered to a patient with malignant
hyperthermia?
A. dantrolene
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔When preparing for a male open inguinal herniorrhaphy, a surgical technologist
should make sure which of the following items is available?
A. 1/2 inch Penrose
B. balloon expander
C. Fogarty catheter
D. 10 Fr. Robinson - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following is used to suture in a graft during a carotid endarterectomy?
A. 6-0 Prolene
B. 5-0 chromic
C. 4-0 silk
D. 3-0 Vicryl - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following sutures weakens and frays from excessive handling with
rubber gloves?
A. polyglactin
B. chromic
C. silk
D. nylon - ✔✔B
✔✔A laminectomy is accomplished by which of the following types of approach?
A. anterior
B. posterior
C. transabdominal
D. cranial - ✔✔B
✔✔Recapping a sterile solution is
A. always acceptable.
B. only allowed in an emergent situation.
C. permissible if contents are to be reused.
D. never allowed unless for disposal. - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following vessels is MOST commonly used in a femoropopliteal
bypass?
A. radial artery
B. femoral artery
,C. saphenous vein
D. basilic vein - ✔✔C
✔✔Which of the following dressings immobilizes an area with added support, eliminates
dead space, and reduces the chance of edema or the formation of a hematoma?
A. rigid
B. wet-to-wet
C. bolster
D. pressure - ✔✔D
✔✔To contain any biohazardous material when removing a drape after a procedure, the
drape should be
A. folded.
B. secured.
C. crumpled.
D. rolled. - ✔✔D
✔✔When passing local anesthetic during a procedure, which of the following should
read aloud the drug name and strength?
A. surgeon
B. surgical technologist
C. first assistant
D. anesthesiologist - ✔✔A
✔✔A patient is hospitalized for third degree burns and contracts a nosocomial deep
tissue infection. Which of the following microorganisms is MOST likely the cause of the
infection?
A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Bacillus cereus
C. Staphylococcus epidermis
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following types of suture would MOST likely be used to repair an
abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A. polyglactin
B. polydioxanone
C. poliglecaprone
D. polypropylene - ✔✔D
, ✔✔After the initial incision is made for an appendectomy, a surgical technologist should
anticipate the next item needed is
A. blunt forceps.
B. Mayo scissors.
C. an electrosurgical pencil.
D. a Weitlaner retractor. - ✔✔C
✔✔When transferring an immobile or unconscious patient from a stretcher to an
operating room table, the MINIMUM number of people required for the transfer is
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5 - ✔✔C
✔✔Pressure on the downside shoulder of a patient in the lateral position is alleviated by
shifting the upper arm and shoulder slightly forward and placing a foam or gel pad under
the flank area. Which of the following will be avoided using this positioning technique?
A. retroclavicular compression
B. lumbosacral nerve root impingement
C. ulnar nerve compression
D. subacromial impingement - ✔✔A
✔✔During a surgical procedure, a patient requires a blood transfusion. After the
transfusion is initiated, the patient's urinary output ceases. This is indicative of
A. malignant hyperthermia.
B. a hemorrhage.
C. a hemolytic reaction.
D. anaphylaxis. - ✔✔C
✔✔A local medication containing epinephrine may be chosen for which of the following
reasons?
A. prolong anesthetic effect
B. relax smooth muscles
C. stop hemorrhage
D. stimulates vasodilation - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following drugs should be administered to a patient with malignant
hyperthermia?
A. dantrolene
