CST Certified Surgical Technologist Exam – 450
Practice Questions (Complete Set)
1. A surgeon requests a "Fogarty" embolectomy catheter during a vascular
procedure. What is the primary use of this instrument?
A. To dilate strictures
B. To remove emboli from blood vessels
C. To clamp vessels
D. To irrigate the surgical site
Rationale: The Fogarty embolectomy catheter is a balloon-tipped catheter used to remove
emboli from blood vessels. The balloon is inflated behind the embolus and withdrawn,
pulling the clot out of the vessel.
2. A patient is scheduled for an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
Which of the following retractors is commonly used for this procedure?
A. Balfour retractor
B. Cloward retractor
C. Richardson retractor
D. Weitlaner retractor
Rationale: The Cloward retractor is a self-retaining retractor specifically designed for
anterior cervical spine surgery. It provides excellent exposure of the cervical spine while
protecting the surrounding structures.
3. During a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon requests a "babcock" clamp.
What is the primary use of this instrument?
A. Clamping blood vessels
B. Grasping delicate tissue, such as the gallbladder or bowel
C. Cutting tissue
D. Retracting tissue
,Rationale: Babcock clamps are atraumatic instruments with fenestrated jaws used to grasp
delicate tissue without causing damage. They are commonly used to grasp the gallbladder,
bowel, and fallopian tubes during surgery.
4. A patient is undergoing a radical prostatectomy. Which of the following is a key
step in preparing the sterile field?
A. Placing the patient in a prone position
B. Positioning the patient in a low lithotomy position
C. Applying a tourniquet to the lower extremity
D. Using a bone saw for pelvic resection
Rationale: A radical prostatectomy is performed with the patient in a low lithotomy
position (legs in stirrups) to allow access to the pelvis and perineum. This position also
allows for perineal approach if needed.
5. A surgeon requests a "Pennington" clamp during a bowel resection. What is the
purpose of this instrument?
A. To grasp and occlude the bowel during resection
B. To cut bowel tissue
C. To retract the bowel
D. To clamp blood vessels
Rationale: Pennington clamps are used to grasp and occlude the bowel during resection.
They have atraumatic jaws with fine serrations to minimize tissue damage.
6. A patient is undergoing a tympanoplasty. Which graft material is most
commonly used for tympanic membrane repair?
A. Autologous cartilage
B. Temporalis fascia
C. Synthetic mesh
D. Pericardium
,Rationale: Temporalis fascia is the most common graft material for tympanoplasty. It is
harvested from the patient's own temporal region and provides a durable, biocompatible
graft for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
7. A surgeon requests a "senn" retractor during a procedure. What is the
characteristic feature of this retractor?
A. It is a self-retaining retractor
B. It is a double-ended retractor with a sharp and a blunt prong
C. It has a curved, flat blade
D. It is used for abdominal surgery
Rationale: The Senn retractor is a double-ended retractor with a sharp prong on one end
and a blunt prong on the other. It is used to retract skin and subcutaneous tissue during
minor procedures.
8. A patient is undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The surgeon requests
an "endoscopic" scissors. What is the purpose of this instrument?
A. To cut tissue and dissect the cystic duct
B. To retract tissue
C. To clamp blood vessels
D. To irrigate the surgical site
Rationale: Endoscopic scissors are used to cut tissue and dissect the cystic duct and artery
during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. They have long shafts and small cutting tips.
9. A surgeon requests a "Tonsil" suction tip during an ENT procedure. What is the
characteristic feature of this suction tip?
A. It is a fine-tipped suction with a control vent
B. It has a curved, bulbous tip for oral suctioning
C. It has a multi-perforated sleeve
D. It is used for neurosurgical suctioning
, Rationale: The Tonsil suction tip (Poole suction) has a curved, bulbous tip and is commonly
used for oral and pharyngeal suctioning during ENT procedures to clear secretions and
blood.
10. A patient is undergoing a total abdominal hysterectomy. Which of the
following is a key step in preparing the sterile field?
A. Placing the patient in a lateral position
B. Using a weighted speculum for vaginal exposure
C. Applying a tourniquet to the lower extremity
D. Using a power saw to cut the uterus
Rationale: A weighted speculum is used to expose the vagina during a total abdominal
hysterectomy. The patient is positioned supine with legs in stirrups (lithotomy position) to
allow access to both the abdomen and vagina.
11. A surgeon requests a "Joseph" skin hook during a procedure. What is this
instrument used for?
A. To retract and elevate skin edges
B. To cut skin
C. To clamp blood vessels
D. To grasp delicate tissue
Rationale: Joseph skin hooks are used to retract and elevate skin edges during surgery,
providing better visualization and exposure of the surgical site.
12. A patient is undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy. The surgeon requests a
"trocar" for the procedure. What is the primary purpose of a trocar?
A. To provide illumination
B. To create an entry portal for instruments
C. To retract tissue
D. To cut tissue
Practice Questions (Complete Set)
1. A surgeon requests a "Fogarty" embolectomy catheter during a vascular
procedure. What is the primary use of this instrument?
A. To dilate strictures
B. To remove emboli from blood vessels
C. To clamp vessels
D. To irrigate the surgical site
Rationale: The Fogarty embolectomy catheter is a balloon-tipped catheter used to remove
emboli from blood vessels. The balloon is inflated behind the embolus and withdrawn,
pulling the clot out of the vessel.
2. A patient is scheduled for an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).
Which of the following retractors is commonly used for this procedure?
A. Balfour retractor
B. Cloward retractor
C. Richardson retractor
D. Weitlaner retractor
Rationale: The Cloward retractor is a self-retaining retractor specifically designed for
anterior cervical spine surgery. It provides excellent exposure of the cervical spine while
protecting the surrounding structures.
3. During a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon requests a "babcock" clamp.
What is the primary use of this instrument?
A. Clamping blood vessels
B. Grasping delicate tissue, such as the gallbladder or bowel
C. Cutting tissue
D. Retracting tissue
,Rationale: Babcock clamps are atraumatic instruments with fenestrated jaws used to grasp
delicate tissue without causing damage. They are commonly used to grasp the gallbladder,
bowel, and fallopian tubes during surgery.
4. A patient is undergoing a radical prostatectomy. Which of the following is a key
step in preparing the sterile field?
A. Placing the patient in a prone position
B. Positioning the patient in a low lithotomy position
C. Applying a tourniquet to the lower extremity
D. Using a bone saw for pelvic resection
Rationale: A radical prostatectomy is performed with the patient in a low lithotomy
position (legs in stirrups) to allow access to the pelvis and perineum. This position also
allows for perineal approach if needed.
5. A surgeon requests a "Pennington" clamp during a bowel resection. What is the
purpose of this instrument?
A. To grasp and occlude the bowel during resection
B. To cut bowel tissue
C. To retract the bowel
D. To clamp blood vessels
Rationale: Pennington clamps are used to grasp and occlude the bowel during resection.
They have atraumatic jaws with fine serrations to minimize tissue damage.
6. A patient is undergoing a tympanoplasty. Which graft material is most
commonly used for tympanic membrane repair?
A. Autologous cartilage
B. Temporalis fascia
C. Synthetic mesh
D. Pericardium
,Rationale: Temporalis fascia is the most common graft material for tympanoplasty. It is
harvested from the patient's own temporal region and provides a durable, biocompatible
graft for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
7. A surgeon requests a "senn" retractor during a procedure. What is the
characteristic feature of this retractor?
A. It is a self-retaining retractor
B. It is a double-ended retractor with a sharp and a blunt prong
C. It has a curved, flat blade
D. It is used for abdominal surgery
Rationale: The Senn retractor is a double-ended retractor with a sharp prong on one end
and a blunt prong on the other. It is used to retract skin and subcutaneous tissue during
minor procedures.
8. A patient is undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The surgeon requests
an "endoscopic" scissors. What is the purpose of this instrument?
A. To cut tissue and dissect the cystic duct
B. To retract tissue
C. To clamp blood vessels
D. To irrigate the surgical site
Rationale: Endoscopic scissors are used to cut tissue and dissect the cystic duct and artery
during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. They have long shafts and small cutting tips.
9. A surgeon requests a "Tonsil" suction tip during an ENT procedure. What is the
characteristic feature of this suction tip?
A. It is a fine-tipped suction with a control vent
B. It has a curved, bulbous tip for oral suctioning
C. It has a multi-perforated sleeve
D. It is used for neurosurgical suctioning
, Rationale: The Tonsil suction tip (Poole suction) has a curved, bulbous tip and is commonly
used for oral and pharyngeal suctioning during ENT procedures to clear secretions and
blood.
10. A patient is undergoing a total abdominal hysterectomy. Which of the
following is a key step in preparing the sterile field?
A. Placing the patient in a lateral position
B. Using a weighted speculum for vaginal exposure
C. Applying a tourniquet to the lower extremity
D. Using a power saw to cut the uterus
Rationale: A weighted speculum is used to expose the vagina during a total abdominal
hysterectomy. The patient is positioned supine with legs in stirrups (lithotomy position) to
allow access to both the abdomen and vagina.
11. A surgeon requests a "Joseph" skin hook during a procedure. What is this
instrument used for?
A. To retract and elevate skin edges
B. To cut skin
C. To clamp blood vessels
D. To grasp delicate tissue
Rationale: Joseph skin hooks are used to retract and elevate skin edges during surgery,
providing better visualization and exposure of the surgical site.
12. A patient is undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy. The surgeon requests a
"trocar" for the procedure. What is the primary purpose of a trocar?
A. To provide illumination
B. To create an entry portal for instruments
C. To retract tissue
D. To cut tissue
