CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
1. Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone
through which the spinal cord passes? B. foramen magnum
2. Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been
opened in OR 1. A surgical technologist was just informed that
the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case in OR 1 is
scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST
course of action? B. New sterile supplies and instruments should
be obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed
of.
3. Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to
injury? C. inflammation
4. Which of the following instruments is used for a common
bile duct exploration? B. Randall forceps
5. Which of the following is the MOST important consideration
when cutting suture? A. avoiding the knot
6. Which of the following structures are ligated and divided
during the cholecystectomy? A.cystic artery and cystic duct
7. Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile
dressing to a skin graft site? A. pressure dressing
8. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the
following instruments is used to grasp the cervix? C. Schroeder
9. On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient
tells the nurse, "No matter what happens, it will be okay." Which
of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST likely in? D.
acceptance
10. Which of the following instruments is used for placement of
cottonoid strips during a craniotomy? A. bayonet forceps
1 1. When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the
sterile field, they should: A. pass back-to-back.
, CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
12. Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate
blood? C. extracorporeal bypass
13. The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate
anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure. C. type of
the procedure.
D. anxiety level of the patient.: A. physiologic condition of the patient.
14. If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should
be packaged with one basin: D. stacked inside the other and
separated by a towel.
15. Which of the following items may be used in positioning a
patient for a total hip arthroplasty? D. bean bag
16. A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How
should the surgical technologist respond? C. Do not acknowledge
the neighbor unless greeted first
17. Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal
stump during an appendectomy should be: A. placed in a
separate basin.
18. Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of
a strangulated hernia? B. necrosis
19. Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for
draping the patient? Readjust the drapes as necessary after
placement.
20. Which of the following structures is separated first when a
paramedian incision is performed? D. rectus abdominis
21. Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a
cervical fracture? D. Mayfield clamp
, CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
22. During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is
controlled by: C. cauterization.
23. To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical procedure,
which of the following should be removed LAST by the surgical
technologist in the scrub role? B. surgical gloves
24. In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon
must enter which of the following? B. Gerota's fascia
25. Which of the following is the MOST common straight
catheter used prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the
OR? D. Robinson
26. A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of
surgery? C. bladder suspension
27. Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the
following procedures might be performed on the patient in the
operating room? C. sigmoidoscopy
28. Which of the following is a fenestrated drape? A. a drape
with an opening that allows exposure of the operative site
29. An appendectomy incision closed using suture is considered
to be which of the following types of wound closure? A. primary
intention
30. Which of the following patients is MOST likely to acquire a
nosocomial infection? D. a male patient who has diabetes
31. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by
which of the following types of sutures? D. purse-string
32. Aerobic organisms are BEST characterized as: C. oxygen-
requiring.
33. The PRIMARY purpose of chest tubes is to: D. re-establish
negative pressure. 34. Which of the following is a surgical
instrument designed for retracting? D. Gelpi
, CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
35. Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to
remove a carcinoma from the head of the pancreas? B. Whipple
36. A sterile item used with an electrosurgical unit is the: C.
active electrode 37. What is the desired effect of atropine sulfate
when used as a preoperative medication? D. drying of secretions
38. A postoperative total arthroplasty patient presents to the
emergency department with severe throbbing pain, fever, and
malaise. Which of the following is the likely diagnosis? C.
osteomyelitis
39. Which of the following is used to stabilize a fractured finger?
D. Kirschner wires
40. Which of the following is the primary purpose for changing
into operating room attire? B. to prevent the of spread of
microorganisms
41. A surgical technologist is assigned to a room where the
patient happens to be his neighbor. To protect patient
confidentiality, the technologist should indicate that he knows
the patient and: B. request to be removed from the room.
42. Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to:
B. decrease intracranial pressure.
43. Which of the following lies between the lung and the chest
wall? C. pleura
44. Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent
dressing? A. adaptic 45. A Balfour is used in which of the
following procedures? B. sigmoid resection
46. If the VII cranial nerve is severed, which of the following is
the result? C. facial paralysis
47. When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and
operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist in the
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
1. Which of the following is the opening in the occipital bone
through which the spinal cord passes? B. foramen magnum
2. Sterile supplies and instruments for a case have been
opened in OR 1. A surgical technologist was just informed that
the case has been moved to OR 2 and the next case in OR 1 is
scheduled in two hours. Which of the following is the BEST
course of action? B. New sterile supplies and instruments should
be obtained for OR 2 and the setup in OR 1 should be disposed
of.
3. Which of the following is the body's local tissue reaction to
injury? C. inflammation
4. Which of the following instruments is used for a common
bile duct exploration? B. Randall forceps
5. Which of the following is the MOST important consideration
when cutting suture? A. avoiding the knot
6. Which of the following structures are ligated and divided
during the cholecystectomy? A.cystic artery and cystic duct
7. Which of the following may be used when applying a sterile
dressing to a skin graft site? A. pressure dressing
8. When performing a dilation and curettage, which of the
following instruments is used to grasp the cervix? C. Schroeder
9. On the way into the operating room, a terminally ill patient
tells the nurse, "No matter what happens, it will be okay." Which
of the Five Stages of Grief is the patient MOST likely in? D.
acceptance
10. Which of the following instruments is used for placement of
cottonoid strips during a craniotomy? A. bayonet forceps
1 1. When two individuals in sterile attire pass one another in the
sterile field, they should: A. pass back-to-back.
, CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
12. Which of the following is used to oxygenate and circulate
blood? C. extracorporeal bypass
13. The PRIMARY consideration in selecting an appropriate
anesthetic agent is the
A. physiologic condition of the patient.
B. length of the procedure. C. type of
the procedure.
D. anxiety level of the patient.: A. physiologic condition of the patient.
14. If two basins are wrapped together for sterilizing, they should
be packaged with one basin: D. stacked inside the other and
separated by a towel.
15. Which of the following items may be used in positioning a
patient for a total hip arthroplasty? D. bean bag
16. A surgical technologist sees a neighbor being admitted. How
should the surgical technologist respond? C. Do not acknowledge
the neighbor unless greeted first
17. Instruments that come in contact with the appendiceal
stump during an appendectomy should be: A. placed in a
separate basin.
18. Which of the following is the MOST serious complication of
a strangulated hernia? B. necrosis
19. Which of the following techniques is NOT acceptable for
draping the patient? Readjust the drapes as necessary after
placement.
20. Which of the following structures is separated first when a
paramedian incision is performed? D. rectus abdominis
21. Which of the following is MOST likely to be used to stabilize a
cervical fracture? D. Mayfield clamp
, CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
22. During a transurethral resection of the prostate, bleeding is
controlled by: C. cauterization.
23. To prevent contamination at the end of a surgical procedure,
which of the following should be removed LAST by the surgical
technologist in the scrub role? B. surgical gloves
24. In order to remove a portion of the kidney, the surgeon
must enter which of the following? B. Gerota's fascia
25. Which of the following is the MOST common straight
catheter used prior to laparoscopic gynecological surgery in the
OR? D. Robinson
26. A Stamey needle is used for which of the following types of
surgery? C. bladder suspension
27. Immediately before a hemorrhoidectomy, which of the
following procedures might be performed on the patient in the
operating room? C. sigmoidoscopy
28. Which of the following is a fenestrated drape? A. a drape
with an opening that allows exposure of the operative site
29. An appendectomy incision closed using suture is considered
to be which of the following types of wound closure? A. primary
intention
30. Which of the following patients is MOST likely to acquire a
nosocomial infection? D. a male patient who has diabetes
31. The appendiceal stump, when inverted, is held in place by
which of the following types of sutures? D. purse-string
32. Aerobic organisms are BEST characterized as: C. oxygen-
requiring.
33. The PRIMARY purpose of chest tubes is to: D. re-establish
negative pressure. 34. Which of the following is a surgical
instrument designed for retracting? D. Gelpi
, CST PRACTICE EXAM 3 WITH STUDY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PROVIDED, 2024-
2025 REVISION MATERIAL
35. Which of the following surgical procedures may be used to
remove a carcinoma from the head of the pancreas? B. Whipple
36. A sterile item used with an electrosurgical unit is the: C.
active electrode 37. What is the desired effect of atropine sulfate
when used as a preoperative medication? D. drying of secretions
38. A postoperative total arthroplasty patient presents to the
emergency department with severe throbbing pain, fever, and
malaise. Which of the following is the likely diagnosis? C.
osteomyelitis
39. Which of the following is used to stabilize a fractured finger?
D. Kirschner wires
40. Which of the following is the primary purpose for changing
into operating room attire? B. to prevent the of spread of
microorganisms
41. A surgical technologist is assigned to a room where the
patient happens to be his neighbor. To protect patient
confidentiality, the technologist should indicate that he knows
the patient and: B. request to be removed from the room.
42. Mannitol (Osmitrol) is used in neurosurgical procedures to:
B. decrease intracranial pressure.
43. Which of the following lies between the lung and the chest
wall? C. pleura
44. Which of the following is applied as a nonadherent
dressing? A. adaptic 45. A Balfour is used in which of the
following procedures? B. sigmoid resection
46. If the VII cranial nerve is severed, which of the following is
the result? C. facial paralysis
47. When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and
operating the skin stapler, the surgical technologist in the
