AST CERTIFICATION PRACTICE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following is the sequence of events for an open procedure?
A. incision, retraction, hemostasis, dissection
B. incision, hemostasis, dissection, retraction
C. incision, dissection, retraction, hemostasis
D. incision, dissection, hemostasis, retraction - ✔✔B
✔✔Which of the following should the surgical technologist don first?
A. hair cover
B. mask
C. sterile gloves
D. gown - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following serrations is unique to most vascular clamps?
A. horizontal
B. atraumatic
C. cross-hatched
D. crushing - ✔✔B
✔✔Where should the safety strap be placed on a patient undergoing a laparotomy?
A. 2 inches distal to knees
B. 2 inches proximal to knees
C. 2 inches proximal to pelvis
D. 2 inches distal to pelvis - ✔✔B
✔✔For which of the following conditions would a miotic, such as acetylcholine chloride,
be used?
A. cataract
B. retinal detachment
C. pterygium
D. chalazion - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following relative humidity levels is appropriate for the OR?
A. 55%
B. 65%
C. 70%
,D. 75% - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following hernias occurs within Hesselbach's Triangle?
A. direct
B. indirect
C. femoral
D. pantaloon - ✔✔A
✔✔During a Wilms' tumor excision, which of the following veins should be identified,
double-clamped with hemostats, divided, and ligated with 3-0 silk?
A. mesenteric
B. umbilical
C. renal
D. iliac - ✔✔B
✔✔Which of the following operating room personnel is required to accompany the
general anesthesia patient to PACU?
A. scrubbed surgical technologist
B. PACU nurse
C. anesthesia care provider
D. surgeon - ✔✔C
✔✔A hammertoe deformity which has caused a contracture at the proximal
interphalangeal joint can be corrected by performing which of the following procedures?
A. extensor tenotomy
B. flexor tenotomy
C. bunionectomy
D. joint arthrotomy - ✔✔B
✔✔Which of the following devices can be used in place of a handsewn anastomosis?
A. GIA stapler
B. Endoloop
C. purse-string stapler
D. LigaSure - ✔✔A
✔✔The surgical technologist monitors the amount of irrigation fluids used
intraoperatively when significant blood is lost to
A. make sure it does not run out.
B. ensure proper charges to patient.
, C. know how much to place on next order.
D. measure blood loss for transfusion. - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following would be applied for manipulation during a pelviscopy?
A. Hulka
B. Schroeder
C. Jacobs
D. Pennington - ✔✔A
✔✔A sudden decrease in vision, eye pain, headache, sensitivity to light, nausea,
vomiting, and rapid increase in interocular pressure MOST likely indicates which of the
following?
A. glaucoma
B. cataract
C. pterygium
D. chalazion - ✔✔A
✔✔If a patient has recurrent shoulder dislocations, which of the following requires
surgical repair?
A. glenohumeral ligaments
B. acromioclavicular joint
C. rotator cuff
D. coracoacromial ligament - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following practices demonstrates a compromise in aseptic technique
during the draping process?
A. discarding a drape that becomes contaminated
B. discarding a drape that falls below table level
C. maintaining a distance from the unsterile sheets on the bed
D. readjusting the framing towel to make the operative space smaller - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following is an example of a diarthrosis joint?
A. intervertebral
B. knee
C. pubis
D. mandibular - ✔✔B
✔✔In the Sims position, the position of the patient's legs should be
A. lower leg flexed, upper leg straight.
AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following is the sequence of events for an open procedure?
A. incision, retraction, hemostasis, dissection
B. incision, hemostasis, dissection, retraction
C. incision, dissection, retraction, hemostasis
D. incision, dissection, hemostasis, retraction - ✔✔B
✔✔Which of the following should the surgical technologist don first?
A. hair cover
B. mask
C. sterile gloves
D. gown - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following serrations is unique to most vascular clamps?
A. horizontal
B. atraumatic
C. cross-hatched
D. crushing - ✔✔B
✔✔Where should the safety strap be placed on a patient undergoing a laparotomy?
A. 2 inches distal to knees
B. 2 inches proximal to knees
C. 2 inches proximal to pelvis
D. 2 inches distal to pelvis - ✔✔B
✔✔For which of the following conditions would a miotic, such as acetylcholine chloride,
be used?
A. cataract
B. retinal detachment
C. pterygium
D. chalazion - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following relative humidity levels is appropriate for the OR?
A. 55%
B. 65%
C. 70%
,D. 75% - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following hernias occurs within Hesselbach's Triangle?
A. direct
B. indirect
C. femoral
D. pantaloon - ✔✔A
✔✔During a Wilms' tumor excision, which of the following veins should be identified,
double-clamped with hemostats, divided, and ligated with 3-0 silk?
A. mesenteric
B. umbilical
C. renal
D. iliac - ✔✔B
✔✔Which of the following operating room personnel is required to accompany the
general anesthesia patient to PACU?
A. scrubbed surgical technologist
B. PACU nurse
C. anesthesia care provider
D. surgeon - ✔✔C
✔✔A hammertoe deformity which has caused a contracture at the proximal
interphalangeal joint can be corrected by performing which of the following procedures?
A. extensor tenotomy
B. flexor tenotomy
C. bunionectomy
D. joint arthrotomy - ✔✔B
✔✔Which of the following devices can be used in place of a handsewn anastomosis?
A. GIA stapler
B. Endoloop
C. purse-string stapler
D. LigaSure - ✔✔A
✔✔The surgical technologist monitors the amount of irrigation fluids used
intraoperatively when significant blood is lost to
A. make sure it does not run out.
B. ensure proper charges to patient.
, C. know how much to place on next order.
D. measure blood loss for transfusion. - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following would be applied for manipulation during a pelviscopy?
A. Hulka
B. Schroeder
C. Jacobs
D. Pennington - ✔✔A
✔✔A sudden decrease in vision, eye pain, headache, sensitivity to light, nausea,
vomiting, and rapid increase in interocular pressure MOST likely indicates which of the
following?
A. glaucoma
B. cataract
C. pterygium
D. chalazion - ✔✔A
✔✔If a patient has recurrent shoulder dislocations, which of the following requires
surgical repair?
A. glenohumeral ligaments
B. acromioclavicular joint
C. rotator cuff
D. coracoacromial ligament - ✔✔A
✔✔Which of the following practices demonstrates a compromise in aseptic technique
during the draping process?
A. discarding a drape that becomes contaminated
B. discarding a drape that falls below table level
C. maintaining a distance from the unsterile sheets on the bed
D. readjusting the framing towel to make the operative space smaller - ✔✔D
✔✔Which of the following is an example of a diarthrosis joint?
A. intervertebral
B. knee
C. pubis
D. mandibular - ✔✔B
✔✔In the Sims position, the position of the patient's legs should be
A. lower leg flexed, upper leg straight.
