AST CST Mock Exam 1 Questions With Well Elaborated Answers

A patient with multiple trauma injuries requires surgical intervention. The patient has a history of DVT and is currently taking anticoagulants. Which of the following should be done to ensure a clot does not develop? Answers: a. Draw a PT/PTT and send the patient to surgery b. Continue current anticoagulation therapy c. Administer a subcutaneous anticoagulant preoperatively d. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities - correct answer d. Place a sequential compression device on lower extremities A T-tube drain may be used following Answers: a. an appendectomy b. a splenectomy c. a choledochotomy d. a herniorrhaphy - correct answer c. a choledochotomy A cardiac arrest occurs during a procedure, and the surgeon is resuscitating the patient. What is the responsibility of the surgical technologist in the scrub role during this time? Answers: a. Remain sterile and maintain the sterile field b. Break scrub and call for help c. Move the electrosurgical unit (ESU) away from the operating table d. Hand the surgeon a loaded needle holder and forceps for closing - correct answer Remain sterile and maintain the sterile field A cerclage procedure is performed for which of the following conditions? Answers: a. Bartholin's cyst b. placenta previa c. ectopic pregnancy d. incompetent cervix - correct answer d. incompetent cervix A colonoscopy has just concluded, and it is time to reprocess the instruments utilized in the case. Which of the following is the MOST effective method for processing the endoscopes? Answers: a. gravity displacement sterilizer b. cobalt-60 radiation c. ethylene oxide d. glutaraldehyde - correct answer d. glutaraldehyde A device used to measure fluid pressure is known as a Answers: a. manometer b. spirometer c. thermometer d. capnometer - correct answer manometer A form of contrast media used within the body that is visible when exposed to x-ray is Answers: a. endogenous b. exogenous c. radiopaque d. radiolucent - correct answer c. radiopaque A liver laceration is identified during an emergency exploratory laparotomy. A surgical technologist will prepare suture attached to which of the following types of needles? Answers: a. blunt b. conventional cutting c. reverse cutting d. tapered - correct answer blunt A nasogastric (NG) tube is used to Answers: a. dilate the lower esophageal sphincter b. promote vomiting c. monitor the pH of stomach contents d. drain the stomach - correct answer d. drain the stomach A pad-like sac or cavity that prevents friction within a joint is known as a Answers: a. fossa b. ligament c. bursa d. ganglion - correct answer c. bursa A patient has arrived in the operating room for a bilateral mastectomy. She is crying inconsolably. The surgical technologist can best console her by saying which of the following? Answers: a. "I am sure we will be able to remove all of the cancer." b. "We are going to give you the best care possible." c. "Everything will be fine." d. "Your surgeon is the best in the hospital." - correct answer b. "We are going to give you the best care possible." A patient is complaining of nausea, fever, and severe back pain. The patient was previously diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism. This patient MOST likely suffers from Answers: a. glomerulonephritis b. chordee c. hydrocele d. kidney stones - correct answer d. kidney stones A patient presented in the OR without family history related to anesthesia complications. Which of the following complications is of MOST concern related to the lack of family history? Answers: a. malignant hyperthermia b. cardiac arrest c. transfusion reaction d. bronchospasm - correct answer a. malignant hyperthermia A patient who is HIV-positive is having an abdominal procedure. Another patient who is HIV-negative is having an orthopedic procedure. During and subsequent to the cases, the surgical technologist should take Answers: a. standard precautions for both patients b. no precautions for either patient c. standard precautions for the HIV-positive patient d. standard precautions for the HIV-negative patient - correct answer a. standard precautions for both patients A pneumatic tourniquet may be used for extremity surgery to Answers: a. reduce blood loss b. create an anesthetic effect c. exsanguinate the extremity d. allow the surgeon more operating time - correct answer a. reduce blood loss A resectoscope is used in which of the following prostatic approaches? Answers: a. transurethral b. perineal c. suprapubic d. retropubic - correct answer a. transurethral A resectoscope is used to resect the Answers: a. prostate b. ovaries c. vas deferens d. fallopian tubes - correct answer a. prostate A surgeon asks for warm irrigation after a GI tract reanastomosis. Which of the following BEST describes the reason for irrigating at this point in the procedure? Answers: a. to eliminate any infection-causing microbes b. to clean out the area of any loose tissue c. to aid visual inspection for leakage d. to maintain the core body temperature - correct answer c. to aid visual inspection for leakage A surgeon has just completed an incisional biopsy and would like to have an immediate diagnosis. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step? Answers: a. Send the specimen to pathology in a specimen container containing normal saline so that a frozen section can be completed b. Send the specimen to pathology in a dry specimen container so that a frozen section can be completed c. Send the specimen to pathology in a specimen container containing normal saline so that a permanent section can be completed d. Send the specimen to pathology in a dry specimen container so that a permanent section can be completed - correct answer b. Send the specimen to pathology in a dry specimen container so that a frozen section can be completed A surgeon is performing a procedure to repair damage from a gunshot wound to the chest. Which of the following types of drains should the surgical technologist have available at the end of the procedure? Answers: a. suction b. underwater