AST CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A second intention wound heals by:
o A. Granulation
o B. Evisceration
o C. Primary union
o D. Delayed suturing - ✔✔A. During second intention healing, granulation tissue
containing fibroblasts forms in the woundand closes it by contraction with secondary
growth of epithelium
✔✔Covering a sterile backtable for later use is:
o A. Permissible for up to one hour before the procedure
o B. Permissible in instances of an emergency
o C. Not permissible for up to 2 hours before the procedure
o D. Not permissible under any circumstances. - ✔✔D. Covering a sterile backtable for
later use is not permitted, because it is nearly impossible to uncover without
contaminating the sterile items on the top of the table; additionally, uncovering the table
stirs up dust in the OR.
✔✔In which position would a patient be placed to counteract hypovolemia?
o A. Left lateral
o B. Right lateral
o C. Trendelenburg
o D. Reverse Trendelenburg - ✔✔C. Hypovolemia is low blood volume. Patients are
placed in the Trendelenburg position to increase blood flow to the upper body.
✔✔Which level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is most applicable to the surgical
patient?
o A. Esteem and prestige
o B. Love and belonging
o C. Safety and security
o D. Physiological and survival - ✔✔D. Physiological and survival is the most applicable
to the surgical patient.
✔✔If an ophthalmologist orders trimming of eyelashes, how is it safely performed?
o A. Electric trimmer used on dry lashes
o B. Electric trimmer used on wet lashes
o C. Fine scissors without water-soluble gel
o D. Fine scissors coated with water-soluble gel - ✔✔D. Fine scissors coated with
water-soluble gel is used for trimming eyelashes.
✔✔What is the proper procedure to follow when a pack of sponges contains an
incorrect number after the patient has entered the OR?
o A. Record actual number and use
, o B. Hand off the sterile field and isolate
o C. Place on sterile backtable and do not use
o D. Remove from the OR - ✔✔B. If a sponge pack contains an incorrect number of
sponges, the first scrub surgical technologist should hand the sponges to the circulator
who will place the sponges in an area of the OR where they will not be thrown away or
mixed with other sponges until the end of the procedure and the OR is being cleaned.
✔✔Which of the following catheter tips is used in a patient with a urethral stricture?
o A. Olive
o B. Coude
o C. Whistle
o D. Mushroom - ✔✔B. Coude is a non-retaining catheter tip to maneuver around an
obstruction if a patient has a urethral stricture.
✔✔Which of the following hemostatic agents is contraindicated for use in the presence
of infection?
o A. Topical thrombin
o B. Oxidized cellulose
o C. Absorbable gelatin
o D. Absorbable collagen - ✔✔D. Absorbable collagen is contraindicated in the
presence of infection or in areas where blood or other body
✔✔For which of the following diagnoses would a patient undergo endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography?
o A. Cholecystitis
o B. Choledocholithiasis
o C. Pancreatitis
o D. Pancreatolithiasis - ✔✔B. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP) is performed to visualize the biliary and pancreatic tract so the patient would
have the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. fluids have pooled.
✔✔The high ligation of the gonadal veins of the testes performed to reduce venous
plexus congestion is a/an:
o A. Spermatocelectomy
o B. Varicocelectomy
o C. Epididymectomy
o D. Vasovasostomy - ✔✔A. Culdocentensis is a diagnostic procedure performed for
suspected ectopic pregnancy, intraperitoneal bleeding or tuboovarian abscess. It
involves the aspiration of blood, fluid or pus by needle via the posterior vaginal fornix.
✔✔Which of the following is performed for suspected ectopic pregnancy?
o A. Culdocentesis
o B. Colposcopy
o C. Culdotomy
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A second intention wound heals by:
o A. Granulation
o B. Evisceration
o C. Primary union
o D. Delayed suturing - ✔✔A. During second intention healing, granulation tissue
containing fibroblasts forms in the woundand closes it by contraction with secondary
growth of epithelium
✔✔Covering a sterile backtable for later use is:
o A. Permissible for up to one hour before the procedure
o B. Permissible in instances of an emergency
o C. Not permissible for up to 2 hours before the procedure
o D. Not permissible under any circumstances. - ✔✔D. Covering a sterile backtable for
later use is not permitted, because it is nearly impossible to uncover without
contaminating the sterile items on the top of the table; additionally, uncovering the table
stirs up dust in the OR.
✔✔In which position would a patient be placed to counteract hypovolemia?
o A. Left lateral
o B. Right lateral
o C. Trendelenburg
o D. Reverse Trendelenburg - ✔✔C. Hypovolemia is low blood volume. Patients are
placed in the Trendelenburg position to increase blood flow to the upper body.
✔✔Which level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is most applicable to the surgical
patient?
o A. Esteem and prestige
o B. Love and belonging
o C. Safety and security
o D. Physiological and survival - ✔✔D. Physiological and survival is the most applicable
to the surgical patient.
✔✔If an ophthalmologist orders trimming of eyelashes, how is it safely performed?
o A. Electric trimmer used on dry lashes
o B. Electric trimmer used on wet lashes
o C. Fine scissors without water-soluble gel
o D. Fine scissors coated with water-soluble gel - ✔✔D. Fine scissors coated with
water-soluble gel is used for trimming eyelashes.
✔✔What is the proper procedure to follow when a pack of sponges contains an
incorrect number after the patient has entered the OR?
o A. Record actual number and use
, o B. Hand off the sterile field and isolate
o C. Place on sterile backtable and do not use
o D. Remove from the OR - ✔✔B. If a sponge pack contains an incorrect number of
sponges, the first scrub surgical technologist should hand the sponges to the circulator
who will place the sponges in an area of the OR where they will not be thrown away or
mixed with other sponges until the end of the procedure and the OR is being cleaned.
✔✔Which of the following catheter tips is used in a patient with a urethral stricture?
o A. Olive
o B. Coude
o C. Whistle
o D. Mushroom - ✔✔B. Coude is a non-retaining catheter tip to maneuver around an
obstruction if a patient has a urethral stricture.
✔✔Which of the following hemostatic agents is contraindicated for use in the presence
of infection?
o A. Topical thrombin
o B. Oxidized cellulose
o C. Absorbable gelatin
o D. Absorbable collagen - ✔✔D. Absorbable collagen is contraindicated in the
presence of infection or in areas where blood or other body
✔✔For which of the following diagnoses would a patient undergo endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography?
o A. Cholecystitis
o B. Choledocholithiasis
o C. Pancreatitis
o D. Pancreatolithiasis - ✔✔B. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
(ERCP) is performed to visualize the biliary and pancreatic tract so the patient would
have the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. fluids have pooled.
✔✔The high ligation of the gonadal veins of the testes performed to reduce venous
plexus congestion is a/an:
o A. Spermatocelectomy
o B. Varicocelectomy
o C. Epididymectomy
o D. Vasovasostomy - ✔✔A. Culdocentensis is a diagnostic procedure performed for
suspected ectopic pregnancy, intraperitoneal bleeding or tuboovarian abscess. It
involves the aspiration of blood, fluid or pus by needle via the posterior vaginal fornix.
✔✔Which of the following is performed for suspected ectopic pregnancy?
o A. Culdocentesis
o B. Colposcopy
o C. Culdotomy
