ABSA SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 STUDY GUIDE
CORRECT MARKING
◉ The mechanical strength of a weak eye muscle due to strabismus
in a pediatric patient can be corrected by all of the following
EXCEPT:
*tucking
*advancement
*recession
*resection Answer: recession
◉ A chalazion is a chronic inflammation of the Answer: meibomian
gland
◉ Which procedure is done for chronic dacryocystitis? Answer:
dacryocystorhinostomy
◉ A procedure to treat retinal detachment is Answer: scleral
buckling
◉ What involves small, corneal incisions as treatment for myopia?
Answer: radical keratotomy
,◉ When performing a tympanoplasty, the graft is secured to the oval
window when Answer: the footplate of the stapes cannot move
◉ Which incision is indicated for an esophagogastrectomy? Answer:
thoracoabdominal
◉ Which is an alternate procedure to stapedectomy? Answer:
stapedotomy
◉ Which structures that travel thoughthe temporal bone must be
identified and preserved when performing a mastoidectomy?
Answer: mastoid sinus, facial nerve
◉ The term epistaxis means Answer: nasal bleeding
◉ Chronic otitis media can lead to loss of hearing. In the early stages,
the patient can be helped by Answer: myringotomy
◉ Which nerve must be preserved to prevent muscle weakness
during a parotidectomy? Answer: facial
◉ Which incisions allow for optimal exposure of frontal sinus
fractures? Answer: coronal
,◉ Which nerve that innervates the muscles around the chin must be
protected from injury when repairing a fracture of the madible?
Answer: marginal mandibular
◉ Which branch of the trigeminal nerve must be identified and
prserved when performing a submandibular gland removal?
Answer: lignual
◉ Prior to plating a mandibular fracture, what should be applied to
ensure proper occlusion of the teeth? Answer: arch bars
◉ What should be sent postop with the patient who has arch bars
applied? Answer: wire scissors
◉ A patient is being evaluated for undergoing a breast
reconstruction procedure and indicates she still smokes. Which
procedures would the surgical assistant recommend? Answer: free
TRAM flap
◉ A common autologous donor site for a free flap graft for replacing
the jaw bone is the Answer: fibula
, ◉ When possible during a plastic surgery procedre, incision should
be placed Answer: perpendicular to the long axis of the underlying
muscle
◉ Sutures fromt he ear may be removed after Answer: 10 - 14 days
◉ Reasons for skin graft failure include Answer: hematoma
◉ Cleft lip repair is usually recommended at Answer: 3 months
◉ Which congential anomalies limit the skull's volume and increases
the intracranial pressure? Answer: craniosynostosis
◉ What statement is correct concerning the handling of renal
calculi? Answer: Kept dry to avoid interference with chemical
analysis
◉ Which types of fistulas refers to leakage of urine into the vagina?
Answer: vesicovaginal
◉ When performing a radical cystectomy with ileal conduit, which is
an alternative patient position that a surgeon may prefer? Answer:
low lithotomy
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 STUDY GUIDE
CORRECT MARKING
◉ The mechanical strength of a weak eye muscle due to strabismus
in a pediatric patient can be corrected by all of the following
EXCEPT:
*tucking
*advancement
*recession
*resection Answer: recession
◉ A chalazion is a chronic inflammation of the Answer: meibomian
gland
◉ Which procedure is done for chronic dacryocystitis? Answer:
dacryocystorhinostomy
◉ A procedure to treat retinal detachment is Answer: scleral
buckling
◉ What involves small, corneal incisions as treatment for myopia?
Answer: radical keratotomy
,◉ When performing a tympanoplasty, the graft is secured to the oval
window when Answer: the footplate of the stapes cannot move
◉ Which incision is indicated for an esophagogastrectomy? Answer:
thoracoabdominal
◉ Which is an alternate procedure to stapedectomy? Answer:
stapedotomy
◉ Which structures that travel thoughthe temporal bone must be
identified and preserved when performing a mastoidectomy?
Answer: mastoid sinus, facial nerve
◉ The term epistaxis means Answer: nasal bleeding
◉ Chronic otitis media can lead to loss of hearing. In the early stages,
the patient can be helped by Answer: myringotomy
◉ Which nerve must be preserved to prevent muscle weakness
during a parotidectomy? Answer: facial
◉ Which incisions allow for optimal exposure of frontal sinus
fractures? Answer: coronal
,◉ Which nerve that innervates the muscles around the chin must be
protected from injury when repairing a fracture of the madible?
Answer: marginal mandibular
◉ Which branch of the trigeminal nerve must be identified and
prserved when performing a submandibular gland removal?
Answer: lignual
◉ Prior to plating a mandibular fracture, what should be applied to
ensure proper occlusion of the teeth? Answer: arch bars
◉ What should be sent postop with the patient who has arch bars
applied? Answer: wire scissors
◉ A patient is being evaluated for undergoing a breast
reconstruction procedure and indicates she still smokes. Which
procedures would the surgical assistant recommend? Answer: free
TRAM flap
◉ A common autologous donor site for a free flap graft for replacing
the jaw bone is the Answer: fibula
, ◉ When possible during a plastic surgery procedre, incision should
be placed Answer: perpendicular to the long axis of the underlying
muscle
◉ Sutures fromt he ear may be removed after Answer: 10 - 14 days
◉ Reasons for skin graft failure include Answer: hematoma
◉ Cleft lip repair is usually recommended at Answer: 3 months
◉ Which congential anomalies limit the skull's volume and increases
the intracranial pressure? Answer: craniosynostosis
◉ What statement is correct concerning the handling of renal
calculi? Answer: Kept dry to avoid interference with chemical
analysis
◉ Which types of fistulas refers to leakage of urine into the vagina?
Answer: vesicovaginal
◉ When performing a radical cystectomy with ileal conduit, which is
an alternative patient position that a surgeon may prefer? Answer:
low lithotomy
