CST Certified Surgical Technologist Exam – 350
Practice Questions (Complete Set)
1. During a cystoscopy, the surgeon requests a guidewire to be placed. Which of
the following guidewires is most commonly used for urological procedures?
A. Amplatz guidewire
B. Bentson guidewire
C. Terumo guidewire
D. Lunderquist guidewire
Rationale: The Amplatz guidewire is a stiff, straight-tip guidewire with a floppy tip,
commonly used in urology to facilitate the passage of catheters and dilators during
cystoscopy and other urologic procedures.
2. A patient is undergoing a tympanoplasty. The surgeon requests a graft material.
Which of the following is most commonly used for tympanic membrane grafting?
A. Autologous cartilage
B. Temporalis fascia
C. Synthetic mesh
D. Pericardium
Rationale: Temporalis fascia is the most common graft material used for tympanoplasty. It
is harvested from the patient's own temporal region and provides a durable,
biocompatible graft for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
3. In a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the cystic duct and artery are clipped before
division. What is the standard number of clips applied to the cystic duct?
A. One clip
B. Two clips on the patient side and one clip on the specimen side
C. Three clips on the patient side
D. No clips are used
,Rationale: Two clips are placed on the patient side of the cystic duct and one clip on the
specimen side to ensure secure closure and prevent leakage. This is a common practice in
laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
4. The surgeon requests a "poole" suction tip during an abdominal procedure.
What is the characteristic feature of a Poole suction tip?
A. It has a single straight tip
B. It has a multi-perforated sleeve that prevents tissue entrapment
C. It is used for delicate neurosurgery
D. It is a rigid metal tube with a side opening
Rationale: The Poole suction tip is a two-piece suction device with an outer perforated
sleeve that prevents tissue from being sucked into the tip. It is commonly used in
abdominal surgery to evacuate large volumes of fluid without damaging surrounding
tissue.
5. A patient is scheduled for a modified radical mastectomy. Which muscle is
typically preserved in this procedure?
A. Pectoralis major
B. Pectoralis minor and major
C. Serratus anterior
D. Latissimus dorsi
Rationale: In a modified radical mastectomy, both the pectoralis major and minor muscles
are preserved. This differentiates it from a radical mastectomy, where the pectoralis major
and minor are removed along with the breast and axillary lymph nodes.
6. The surgeon requests a "Veress" needle during a laparoscopic procedure. What
is the purpose of this instrument?
A. To place laparoscopic ports
B. To create pneumoperitoneum by insufflating carbon dioxide
,C. To dissect tissue
D. To retract the gallbladder
Rationale: The Veress needle is a spring-loaded needle used to create pneumoperitoneum
by insufflating carbon dioxide into the abdominal cavity, allowing for safe placement of
the initial trocar.
7. Which of the following is the correct sequence for prepping a surgical patient
for a procedure on the lower extremity?
A. Circular strokes starting at the incision site and moving outward
B. Linear strokes starting at the incision site and moving outward
C. Circular strokes from the ankle to the groin
D. Linear strokes from the groin to the ankle
Rationale: The surgical prep is applied using a circular motion, starting at the incision site
and moving outward to the periphery. This prevents contamination from the periphery
back to the incision site.
8. A patient is undergoing a carotid endarterectomy. Which of the following is a
key step in preparing the sterile field for this procedure?
A. Placing the patient in a prone position
B. Using a heparinized saline solution for irrigation
C. Applying a pneumatic tourniquet to the arm
D. Using a power saw for bone resection
Rationale: Heparinized saline is used during carotid endarterectomy to irrigate the surgical
site and prevent clot formation during cross-clamping of the carotid artery.
9. A surgeon requests a "Schnidt" forceps during a vascular procedure. What is
another name for this instrument?
A. Mixter forceps
B. Kocher clamp
, C. Babcock clamp
D. Allis clamp
Rationale: Schnidt forceps are also known as Mixter forceps or right-angle forceps. They
are used to dissect around vessels and pass ligatures during vascular and general surgery
procedures.
10. A patient is undergoing a craniotomy for tumor resection. Which of the
following is the most important safety consideration during positioning?
A. Placing a roll under the knees
B. Ensuring the head is stabilized and pressure points are padded
C. Using a footboard
D. Placing the arms at the sides
Rationale: In craniotomy, the head must be stabilized in a Mayfield headrest or skull
clamp to prevent movement. Pressure points on the face, eyes, and other bony
prominences must be carefully padded to prevent injury.
11. The surgeon requests a "Kerrison" rongeur during a spinal procedure. What is
the purpose of this instrument?
A. To remove bone and lamina
B. To retract nerves
C. To grasp tissue
D. To cut suture material
Rationale: The Kerrison rongeur is a specialized instrument used to remove bone and
lamina during spinal decompression procedures. It has a footplate that protects underlying
structures while bone is removed.
12. A patient is scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy. Which of the
following retractors is commonly used for this procedure?
A. Balfour retractor
Practice Questions (Complete Set)
1. During a cystoscopy, the surgeon requests a guidewire to be placed. Which of
the following guidewires is most commonly used for urological procedures?
A. Amplatz guidewire
B. Bentson guidewire
C. Terumo guidewire
D. Lunderquist guidewire
Rationale: The Amplatz guidewire is a stiff, straight-tip guidewire with a floppy tip,
commonly used in urology to facilitate the passage of catheters and dilators during
cystoscopy and other urologic procedures.
2. A patient is undergoing a tympanoplasty. The surgeon requests a graft material.
Which of the following is most commonly used for tympanic membrane grafting?
A. Autologous cartilage
B. Temporalis fascia
C. Synthetic mesh
D. Pericardium
Rationale: Temporalis fascia is the most common graft material used for tympanoplasty. It
is harvested from the patient's own temporal region and provides a durable,
biocompatible graft for tympanic membrane reconstruction.
3. In a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the cystic duct and artery are clipped before
division. What is the standard number of clips applied to the cystic duct?
A. One clip
B. Two clips on the patient side and one clip on the specimen side
C. Three clips on the patient side
D. No clips are used
,Rationale: Two clips are placed on the patient side of the cystic duct and one clip on the
specimen side to ensure secure closure and prevent leakage. This is a common practice in
laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
4. The surgeon requests a "poole" suction tip during an abdominal procedure.
What is the characteristic feature of a Poole suction tip?
A. It has a single straight tip
B. It has a multi-perforated sleeve that prevents tissue entrapment
C. It is used for delicate neurosurgery
D. It is a rigid metal tube with a side opening
Rationale: The Poole suction tip is a two-piece suction device with an outer perforated
sleeve that prevents tissue from being sucked into the tip. It is commonly used in
abdominal surgery to evacuate large volumes of fluid without damaging surrounding
tissue.
5. A patient is scheduled for a modified radical mastectomy. Which muscle is
typically preserved in this procedure?
A. Pectoralis major
B. Pectoralis minor and major
C. Serratus anterior
D. Latissimus dorsi
Rationale: In a modified radical mastectomy, both the pectoralis major and minor muscles
are preserved. This differentiates it from a radical mastectomy, where the pectoralis major
and minor are removed along with the breast and axillary lymph nodes.
6. The surgeon requests a "Veress" needle during a laparoscopic procedure. What
is the purpose of this instrument?
A. To place laparoscopic ports
B. To create pneumoperitoneum by insufflating carbon dioxide
,C. To dissect tissue
D. To retract the gallbladder
Rationale: The Veress needle is a spring-loaded needle used to create pneumoperitoneum
by insufflating carbon dioxide into the abdominal cavity, allowing for safe placement of
the initial trocar.
7. Which of the following is the correct sequence for prepping a surgical patient
for a procedure on the lower extremity?
A. Circular strokes starting at the incision site and moving outward
B. Linear strokes starting at the incision site and moving outward
C. Circular strokes from the ankle to the groin
D. Linear strokes from the groin to the ankle
Rationale: The surgical prep is applied using a circular motion, starting at the incision site
and moving outward to the periphery. This prevents contamination from the periphery
back to the incision site.
8. A patient is undergoing a carotid endarterectomy. Which of the following is a
key step in preparing the sterile field for this procedure?
A. Placing the patient in a prone position
B. Using a heparinized saline solution for irrigation
C. Applying a pneumatic tourniquet to the arm
D. Using a power saw for bone resection
Rationale: Heparinized saline is used during carotid endarterectomy to irrigate the surgical
site and prevent clot formation during cross-clamping of the carotid artery.
9. A surgeon requests a "Schnidt" forceps during a vascular procedure. What is
another name for this instrument?
A. Mixter forceps
B. Kocher clamp
, C. Babcock clamp
D. Allis clamp
Rationale: Schnidt forceps are also known as Mixter forceps or right-angle forceps. They
are used to dissect around vessels and pass ligatures during vascular and general surgery
procedures.
10. A patient is undergoing a craniotomy for tumor resection. Which of the
following is the most important safety consideration during positioning?
A. Placing a roll under the knees
B. Ensuring the head is stabilized and pressure points are padded
C. Using a footboard
D. Placing the arms at the sides
Rationale: In craniotomy, the head must be stabilized in a Mayfield headrest or skull
clamp to prevent movement. Pressure points on the face, eyes, and other bony
prominences must be carefully padded to prevent injury.
11. The surgeon requests a "Kerrison" rongeur during a spinal procedure. What is
the purpose of this instrument?
A. To remove bone and lamina
B. To retract nerves
C. To grasp tissue
D. To cut suture material
Rationale: The Kerrison rongeur is a specialized instrument used to remove bone and
lamina during spinal decompression procedures. It has a footplate that protects underlying
structures while bone is removed.
12. A patient is scheduled for a total abdominal hysterectomy. Which of the
following retractors is commonly used for this procedure?
A. Balfour retractor
