OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which dressing is used after nasal surgery?
(A) Collodion
(B) Moustache
(C) Pressure
(D) Telfa - Correct Answers -(B) A moustache dressing may be applied under the nose
(nares) to absorb any bleeding.
What combination of lasers is particularly useful in surgery of the larynx and vocal
cords?
(A) CO2 and argon
(B) CO2 and helium-neon
(C) CO2 and Nd:YAG
(D) Argon and helium-neon - Correct Answers -(B) The CO2 laser is efficient and has a
high-power output. It uses a combination of CO2, nitrogen, and helium. As energy levels
subside, light beams are produced that form a single beam of light in the ultraviolet
range that is invisible. For this reason, a red beam from a helium-neon laser is added so
that it may be properly aimed at the affected tissue.
The most common topical anesthetic agent used in ENT surgery is:
(A) Xylocaine
(B) Procaine
(C) Cocaine
(D) Surfacaine - Correct Answers -(C) Cocaine is unrivaled in its power to penetrate the
mucous membrane to produce surface anesthesia. Onset is immediate. It also causes
vasoconstriction to reduce bleeding. Administration is only topical because of its high
toxicity.
Irrigation is used with the ear drill:
(A) to remove bone fragments
(B) to minimize transfer of heat from burr to surrounding structures
(C) to add moisture
(D) to control bleeding - Correct Answers -(B) The scrub cleans the burrs during the
procedure. Continuous irrigation is necessary to minimize the transfer of heat from the
burr to surrounding bone and structures. A suction irrigation may be used.
A surgical schedule would describe the procedure to treat acute otitis media as a:
,(A) myringotomy
(B) stapes mobilization
(C) fenestration operation
(D) Wullstein procedure - Correct Answers -(A) Incision of the tympanic membrane,
known as myringotomy, is done to treat otitis media. By releasing the fluid behind the
membrane, hearing is restored and infection controlled. Frequently, tubes are inserted
through the tympanic membrane.
In myringotomy, the tube to facilitate drainage is placed into the tympanic membrane
with a/an:
(A) alligator forceps
(B) Castroviejo
(C) wire loop curette
(D) Tobey forceps - Correct Answers -(A) An alligator forceps is used to insert the tube
into the incision.
A perforated eardrum is corrected by:
(A) myringotomy
(B) stapedectomy
(C) stapedotomy
(D) tympanoplasty - Correct Answers -(D) Perforation of the eardrum (tympanic
membrane) is the most common serious ear injury.
Tympanoplasty using grafted tissue improves hearing and prevents recurrent infection.
Severe vertigo may be relieved by:
(A) stapedectomy
(B) myringotomy
(C) labyrinthectomy
(D) mastoidectomy - Correct Answers -(C) Labyrinthectomy is a procedure that destroys
the membranous labyrinth to relieve the patient of severe vertigo when other means
have been tried. The operation leaves the ear deaf.
Middle ear ventilation is facilitated by:
(A) antrostomy
(B) myringotomy
(C) stapedectomy
(D) turbinectomy - Correct Answers -(B) Myringotomy is incision into the tympanic
membrane to ventilate the middle ear.
Cholesteatoma is treated by doing a:
(A) tympanoplasty
(B) myringotomy
(C) stapedectomy
(D) mastoidectomy - Correct Answers -(D) Mastoidectomy is the removal of the
diseased bone of the mastoid, along with cholesteatoma that results from an
, accumulation of squamous epithelium and its products. This putty-like mass destroys
the middle ear and mastoid, so diseased bone must be removed.
A benign tumor arising from the eighth cranial nerve, which may grow to a size that
produces neurological symptoms, is a/an:
(A) myoma
(B) acoustic neuroma
(C) teratoma
(D) fibroma - Correct Answers -(B) An acoustic neuroma arises in the eighth cranial
nerve (acoustic). These tumors are benign but may grow to a size that produces
neurological symptoms. The main patient complaint is hearing loss.
Facial nerve trauma can be decreased by use of:
(A) computerized nerve monitor
(B) fluoroscopy
(C) Berman locator
(D) Doppler - Correct Answers -(A) Computerized facial nerve monitoring is used
intraoperatively to decrease trauma during tumor dissection and to assess facial nerve
status.
Another name for submucous resection is:
(A) septoplasty
(B) rhinoplasty
(C) antrostomy
(D) trephination - Correct Answers -(A) Submucous resection is also known as
septoplasty—removal of either cartilage or bone portions of the septum that obstruct the
sinus opening and prevent a clear airway.
Surgical correction of a deviated septum is known as a/an:
(A) antrostomy
(B) submucous resection
(C) rhinoplasty
(D) turbinectomy - Correct Answers -(B) A submucous resection is done for nasal
septum deformity, fracture, or injury that has impaired normal respiratory function and
has impaired drainage.
A forceps used in nasal surgery is a/an:
(A) bayonet
(B) Russian
(C) rat-tooth
(D) alligator - Correct Answers -(A) A bayonet forceps is used to introduce sponges into
the nose.
Which sinus is entered during an intranasal antrostomy (antral window)?
(A) Ethmoid
(B) Sphenoid
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which dressing is used after nasal surgery?
(A) Collodion
(B) Moustache
(C) Pressure
(D) Telfa - Correct Answers -(B) A moustache dressing may be applied under the nose
(nares) to absorb any bleeding.
What combination of lasers is particularly useful in surgery of the larynx and vocal
cords?
(A) CO2 and argon
(B) CO2 and helium-neon
(C) CO2 and Nd:YAG
(D) Argon and helium-neon - Correct Answers -(B) The CO2 laser is efficient and has a
high-power output. It uses a combination of CO2, nitrogen, and helium. As energy levels
subside, light beams are produced that form a single beam of light in the ultraviolet
range that is invisible. For this reason, a red beam from a helium-neon laser is added so
that it may be properly aimed at the affected tissue.
The most common topical anesthetic agent used in ENT surgery is:
(A) Xylocaine
(B) Procaine
(C) Cocaine
(D) Surfacaine - Correct Answers -(C) Cocaine is unrivaled in its power to penetrate the
mucous membrane to produce surface anesthesia. Onset is immediate. It also causes
vasoconstriction to reduce bleeding. Administration is only topical because of its high
toxicity.
Irrigation is used with the ear drill:
(A) to remove bone fragments
(B) to minimize transfer of heat from burr to surrounding structures
(C) to add moisture
(D) to control bleeding - Correct Answers -(B) The scrub cleans the burrs during the
procedure. Continuous irrigation is necessary to minimize the transfer of heat from the
burr to surrounding bone and structures. A suction irrigation may be used.
A surgical schedule would describe the procedure to treat acute otitis media as a:
,(A) myringotomy
(B) stapes mobilization
(C) fenestration operation
(D) Wullstein procedure - Correct Answers -(A) Incision of the tympanic membrane,
known as myringotomy, is done to treat otitis media. By releasing the fluid behind the
membrane, hearing is restored and infection controlled. Frequently, tubes are inserted
through the tympanic membrane.
In myringotomy, the tube to facilitate drainage is placed into the tympanic membrane
with a/an:
(A) alligator forceps
(B) Castroviejo
(C) wire loop curette
(D) Tobey forceps - Correct Answers -(A) An alligator forceps is used to insert the tube
into the incision.
A perforated eardrum is corrected by:
(A) myringotomy
(B) stapedectomy
(C) stapedotomy
(D) tympanoplasty - Correct Answers -(D) Perforation of the eardrum (tympanic
membrane) is the most common serious ear injury.
Tympanoplasty using grafted tissue improves hearing and prevents recurrent infection.
Severe vertigo may be relieved by:
(A) stapedectomy
(B) myringotomy
(C) labyrinthectomy
(D) mastoidectomy - Correct Answers -(C) Labyrinthectomy is a procedure that destroys
the membranous labyrinth to relieve the patient of severe vertigo when other means
have been tried. The operation leaves the ear deaf.
Middle ear ventilation is facilitated by:
(A) antrostomy
(B) myringotomy
(C) stapedectomy
(D) turbinectomy - Correct Answers -(B) Myringotomy is incision into the tympanic
membrane to ventilate the middle ear.
Cholesteatoma is treated by doing a:
(A) tympanoplasty
(B) myringotomy
(C) stapedectomy
(D) mastoidectomy - Correct Answers -(D) Mastoidectomy is the removal of the
diseased bone of the mastoid, along with cholesteatoma that results from an
, accumulation of squamous epithelium and its products. This putty-like mass destroys
the middle ear and mastoid, so diseased bone must be removed.
A benign tumor arising from the eighth cranial nerve, which may grow to a size that
produces neurological symptoms, is a/an:
(A) myoma
(B) acoustic neuroma
(C) teratoma
(D) fibroma - Correct Answers -(B) An acoustic neuroma arises in the eighth cranial
nerve (acoustic). These tumors are benign but may grow to a size that produces
neurological symptoms. The main patient complaint is hearing loss.
Facial nerve trauma can be decreased by use of:
(A) computerized nerve monitor
(B) fluoroscopy
(C) Berman locator
(D) Doppler - Correct Answers -(A) Computerized facial nerve monitoring is used
intraoperatively to decrease trauma during tumor dissection and to assess facial nerve
status.
Another name for submucous resection is:
(A) septoplasty
(B) rhinoplasty
(C) antrostomy
(D) trephination - Correct Answers -(A) Submucous resection is also known as
septoplasty—removal of either cartilage or bone portions of the septum that obstruct the
sinus opening and prevent a clear airway.
Surgical correction of a deviated septum is known as a/an:
(A) antrostomy
(B) submucous resection
(C) rhinoplasty
(D) turbinectomy - Correct Answers -(B) A submucous resection is done for nasal
septum deformity, fracture, or injury that has impaired normal respiratory function and
has impaired drainage.
A forceps used in nasal surgery is a/an:
(A) bayonet
(B) Russian
(C) rat-tooth
(D) alligator - Correct Answers -(A) A bayonet forceps is used to introduce sponges into
the nose.
Which sinus is entered during an intranasal antrostomy (antral window)?
(A) Ethmoid
(B) Sphenoid
