CST Practice Test

When positioning a patient for a lower abdominal surgery, which of the following is the most appropriate position to ensure optimal exposure and patient safety?

When selecting sutures for a gastrointestinal surgery, which suture material is most appropriate to minimize the risk of infection and ensure tissue compatibility?

What is the primary reason for performing a surgical time-out prior to incision?

For a patient undergoing a thyroidectomy, which of the following is the most appropriate method to verify the correct patient identity and procedure?

In the context of minimally invasive surgery, which of the following equipment is essential for creating a working space within the abdomen?

When preparing an operating room for a patient with a known latex allergy, which of the following measures is most critical?

What is the primary purpose of using sequential compression devices (SCDs) on a patient during surgery?

Which of the following is the most appropriate sterilization method for heat-sensitive, moisture-sensitive, and high-tech surgical instruments?

For a surgical procedure requiring strict aseptic technique, which of the following surgical team members is responsible for maintaining the sterility of the instruments and surgical field?

When preparing for a microsurgical procedure, which of the following is essential to ensure optimal visibility of the surgical site?

Which factor is most crucial in determining the appropriate surgical gown for a procedure?

In the context of surgical site infection prevention, which of the following measures is NOT typically recommended?

What is the primary reason for using a pneumatic tourniquet in limb surgery?

Which of the following best describes the role of the circulating nurse during preoperative preparation?

When selecting a surgical drape for a procedure, which characteristic is most important for preventing microbial transmission?

What is the most critical aspect to consider when positioning a patient for a spinal surgery to ensure optimal surgical access and patient safety?

For an ophthalmic surgery requiring extreme precision, which of the following environmental conditions must be most carefully controlled?

During a thyroidectomy, which instrument is preferred for dissecting the delicate thyroid tissue?

What is the primary purpose of using a Kittner dissector during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

In an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), which device is most commonly used to maintain intervertebral space after disk removal?

When performing a total knee arthroplasty, which instrument is essential for removing bone from the femoral surface?

During a microdiscectomy, which instrument is crucial for removing herniated disc material without damaging the surrounding neural tissue?

What is the role of a Deaver retractor in an open cholecystectomy?

In vascular surgery, which clamp is preferred for controlling bleeding in small, delicate vessels?

What is the primary function of a Green retractor in abdominal surgery?

During a mastectomy, which surgical tool is primarily used for dissecting through the breast tissue?

In an orthopedic surgery involving the insertion of an intramedullary nail, which instrument is used to guide the nail into the medullary cavity of the bone?

What instrument is most effective for removing small bone fragments during a laminectomy?

For a radical prostatectomy, which of the following retractors provides the best exposure of the prostate gland?

In cardiac surgery, what instrument is used for performing internal mammary artery (IM

Which instrument is specifically designed for grasping and holding the intestine during abdominal surgery?

During a total hip arthroplasty, what tool is used to prepare the acetabulum to receive the prosthetic socket?

In a deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), which instrument is essential for creating a precise corneal dissection?

What instrument is used to measure intraocular pressure during an eye surgery?

Which specialized clamp is used for temporarily occluding the base of the appendix during an appendectomy?

In a Whipple procedure, which instrument is essential for resecting the head of the pancreas?

During a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), what instrument is used to remove prostate tissue?

What is the primary function of the Saphir footplate in middle ear surgery?

In a laminectomy procedure, which instrument is crucial for removing the lamina to decompress the spinal cord?

For an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, which device is specifically used to fixate the graft in the femoral tunnel?

During an esophagectomy, which vascular clamp is preferred for controlling the arterial blood supply to the esophagus?

What instrument is used for the precise dissection and isolation of nerves during a microvascular decompression surgery?

During a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, which instrument is crucial for dissecting around the neurovascular bundles to preserve erectile function?

What specialized surgical tool is used for creating precise corneal flaps during a LASIK procedure?

In a minimally invasive mitral valve repair, which device is most commonly used for stabilizing the heart while maintaining cardiac output?

During a retinal detachment surgery, which instrument is essential for applying cryotherapy to the retinal tear?

For a carpal tunnel release, which instrument is used to cut the transverse carpal ligament while protecting the median nerve?

What is the primary tool used in endoscopic sinus surgery to remove nasal polyps and other obstructions without damaging surrounding structures?

In a thoracoscopic lobectomy, which instrument is essential for dividing the pulmonary vessels and bronchi?

During an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), which device is used to distract the intervertebral disc space for implant insertion?

What instrument is utilized for precise bone cutting during a cranial vault remodeling procedure in craniosynostosis surgery?

In a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, which surgical tool is critical for creating the gastrojejunostomy connection?

During a microsurgical repair of a digital nerve, which instrument is indispensable for manipulating and suturing the nerve ends?

What device is used during an endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) to deploy the aortic stent graft?

In performing a total laryngectomy, which instrument is essential for resecting the thyroid cartilage?

During a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure), which instrument is specifically used for the dissection and division of the pancreas from the duodenum?

What tool is crucial for the dissection of adhesions during a laparoscopic adhesiolysis procedure?

In a deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, which instrument is used to create the burr hole through which the electrode is inserted?

During a thoracoscopic sympathectomy, which instrument is essential for the ablation of the sympathetic chain?

What is the preferred instrument for performing a capsulotomy during cataract surgery?

In a mastoidectomy, which instrument is specifically used to remove the mastoid air cells?

During an open heart surgery, which device is used to temporarily take over the function of the heart and lungs?

What specialized instrument is used for the insertion of intraocular lenses (IOLs) during cataract surgery?

During a spinal fusion surgery, which tool is used to prepare the vertebral bodies for the insertion of an interbody fusion device?

In an endoscopic endonasal approach for pituitary tumor removal, which instrument is vital for the precise excision of the tumor?

During a total pelvic exenteration, which instrument is essential for dissecting and separating the bladder from the anterior wall of the vagina?

What is the primary tool used for the removal of a subdural hematoma during neurosurgery?

In laparoscopic hernia repair surgery, which device is used to deploy and fixate the mesh to the abdominal wall?

During a sleeve gastrectomy, which surgical tool is critical for resecting and removing the lateral portion of the stomach?

In an autologous breast reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, which instrument is indispensable for dissecting the perforator vessels?

What instrument is used to measure the depth of a joint space during a total joint arthroplasty?

During a parathyroidectomy, which device is essential for localizing the parathyroid glands intraoperatively?

What specialized tool is used in ophthalmic surgery to create a flap in the cornea during a LASIK procedure?

During an anterior approach to spinal fusion, which retractor system is commonly used for exposing the lumbar spine?

In a hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, which device facilitates the surgeon's hand entry while maintaining pneumoperitoneum?

Which instrument is used for precise bone removal and shaping during a dorsal hump reduction in rhinoplasty?

During an inguinal hernia repair, what instrument is used for the separation of the hernia sac from the spermatic cord?

What device is utilized in performing minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass 'MIDCAB' to stabilize the target coronary artery?

When monitoring a patient for postoperative bleeding, which of the following signs would be considered the earliest indicator?

Which method is preferred for the immediate postoperative management of a surgical wound with a high risk of infection?

After an abdominal surgery, a patient exhibits signs of an acute abdomen. Which of the following is the most concerning symptom that requires immediate intervention?

In the postoperative phase, the surgical technologist notices that the patient's surgical site is exhibiting signs of dehiscence. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Which of the following is the primary concern when a patient experiences hypothermia during the postoperative period?

Following an orthopedic surgery, a patient is complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. What is the most likely complication?

When dealing with a postoperative patient who has developed a fever within the first 24 hours after surgery, which of the following is the most common cause?

In the management of postoperative surgical drains, which of the following indicates a potential complication that requires immediate attention?

When assessing a postoperative patient for signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which of the following symptoms would be most concerning?

For a patient who has undergone abdominal surgery, which of the following signs would most likely indicate an internal hemorrhage in the immediate postoperative period?

In the postoperative care of a patient who has received a graft, which of the following is the primary indicator of graft failure?

Following a mastectomy, a patient develops lymphedema in the affected arm. Which of the following interventions is most appropriate for initial management?

When dealing with a conflict between two staff members in the operating room, what is the MOST appropriate first step?

What is the primary reason for surgical technologists to participate in departmental quality improvement (QI) meetings?

What is the primary purpose of documenting a surgical technologist's continuing education units (CEUs)?

When updating the surgical department's policy manual, which of the following is the MOST important consideration?

What is the MOST appropriate action for a surgical technologist to take when they observe a breach in sterile technique during a procedure?

Which of the following is considered the best practice for handling a formal complaint made by a surgical technologist regarding workplace safety?

In the event of a surgical instrument malfunction during a procedure, what is the MOST appropriate documentation practice?

How should a surgical technologist respond when asked to perform a task that is outside their scope of practice?

What is the MOST effective strategy for managing time and resources when preparing multiple operating rooms for surgery?

Which of the following is NOT a correct method for loading a gravity displacement sterilizer?

Which sterilization method uses hydrogen peroxide vapor and low-temperature gas plasma to sterilize sensitive medical equipment?

What is the primary reason for performing a Bowie-Dick test in an autoclave?

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can affect the efficacy of sterilization processes?

Which chemical indicator class provides the highest level of assurance that sterilization conditions have been met?

During sterilization, what is the main reason for wrapping instruments?

Which factor is most critical when considering the load configuration in a steam sterilizer?

What is the significance of a spore test failing after a sterilization cycle?

For sterilizing long lumened instruments, what is an essential consideration to ensure sterilant penetration?

In the context of high-level disinfection 'HLD', which of the following is NOT a suitable method for endoscope reprocessing?

When preparing instruments for ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization, what is the significance of using breathable packaging?

What is the purpose of a biological indicator (BI) in the sterilization process?

Prior to a surgical procedure, ensuring proper skin antisepsis is crucial. Which antiseptic agent is preferred for skin preparation in a patient without allergies?

Which sterilization monitoring method directly measures the physical conditions within the sterilizer to ensure the delivery of the sterilization agent?

For sterilization wraps, what is the primary consideration in selecting the appropriate wrap thickness?

What is the main reason for failure in the sterilization process when using an immediate-use steam sterilizer?

What is the impact of residual moisture on instruments after steam sterilization?

In the sterilization of surgical instruments, what is the purpose of a "flash cycle"?

Which of the following structures is not part of the brainstem?

The cardiac cycle's phase where the ventricles are relaxed and the atria are filling with blood is known as:

Which hormone is directly involved in the regulation of blood calcium levels?

The filtration barrier in the nephron of the kidney is made up of which components?

Which layer of the heart is responsible for its pumping action?

The primary function of the large intestine is to:

The bicuspid or mitral valve is located between which two chambers of the heart?

Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for facial expressions?

The renal pyramids are found in which part of the kidney?

Which type of joint is characterized by free movement in multiple directions, such as the shoulder joint?

What is the primary function of the lymphatic system?

The blood-brain barrier is primarily formed by:

What is the function of the semilunar valves in the heart?

In which part of the digestive system does the majority of nutrient absorption occur?

Which hormone regulates the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycles in humans?

What structure in the cell is primarily responsible for synthesizing proteins?

The afferent arterioles in the kidneys directly supply blood to the:

Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for balancing and coordinating movements?

The release of which hormone is most closely associated with the fight-or-flight response?

What is the primary function of the alveolar sacs in the lungs?

In the context of surgical site infections, which microorganism is most commonly associated with prosthetic joint infections?

Which of the following bacteria is known for producing endospores?

Which organism is the causative agent of gas gangrene?

Which of the following is a characteristic of viruses that distinguishes them from bacteria?

Which of the following microorganisms is classified as an obligate intracellular parasite?

Which of the following statements about Mycobacterium tuberculosis is true?

What is the mechanism of action of local anesthetics like lidocaine?

Which drug is commonly used as a neuromuscular blocking agent to facilitate endotracheal intubation?

What is the purpose of administering epinephrine with local anesthetics?

What is the primary action of anticholinergic medications used during surgery?

Which medication is commonly used for its antiemetic properties in the post-operative phase?

What is the primary use of mannitol during neurosurgical procedures?

Prior to a surgical procedure, ensuring proper skin antisepsis is crucial. Which antiseptic agent is preferred for skin preparation in a patient without allergies?