CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST
PRACTICE EXAM #1 EXAM WITH
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
a. hysterectomy
b. appendectomy
c. prostatectomy
d. varicocelectomy - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. During an appendectomy, bowel is
examined and can lead to the discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
Which of the following solutions can be used to disinfect endoscopic instruments?
a. iodophors
b. ethyl alcohol 70%
c. phenolic compounds
d. activated glutaraldehyde - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. Activated glutaraldehyde is a high-
level disinfectant widely used for disinfection of endoscopes.
Which of the following is the administration route for thrombin?
a. local infiltration
,b. topical application
c. intravenous injection
d. intramuscular injection - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. Thrombin may be applied topically, in
a solution or as a powder, but should never be introduced into a large blood vessel,
because significant intravascular clotting and death may result.
Gl0ve powder is normally wiped from the gloved hand, because it has the potential to
cause
a. dehiscence
b. infections
c. granulomas
d. contamination - CORRECT-ANSWERSc. Glove powder is a sterile foreign body whose
reaction with tissue can cause granulomas.
Which of the following procedures is the removal of the entire orbital content, including
the periosteum?
a. recession
b. resection
c. evisceration
,d. exenteration - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. Exenteration removes everything in the gloval
orbit due to malignancies.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of
infection?
a. stainless steel
b. polyglactin-910
c. plain gut
d. silk - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected
areas, because it is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength.
When preparing the Sterrad sterilization system for use in the surgical area, which of the
following outlets must be available?
a. suction
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. electrical - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. The Sterrad sterilization system requires electricity
to operated.
When can instrument counts be omitted?
a. if the incision is too small for an instrument to become buried
, b. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
c. if instruments are needed in another operating room
d. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. The count
can be deleted if significant risk for a retained item is unlikely and falls within hospital
protocols.
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the
surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. These layers are the two most outer
layers of the skin and are closed together by the skin stapler.
Which of the following is the definition of instrument sterilization?
a. surgical cleaning with an antiseptic
b. manual decontamination
c. destruction of microorganisms
d. reduction of bacteria - CORRECT-ANSWERSc. Sterilization is the destruction of all
microogranisms.
PRACTICE EXAM #1 EXAM WITH
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2025
During which of the following surgeries is a Meckel's diverticulum typically discovered?
a. hysterectomy
b. appendectomy
c. prostatectomy
d. varicocelectomy - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. During an appendectomy, bowel is
examined and can lead to the discovery of a Meckel's diverticulum.
Which of the following solutions can be used to disinfect endoscopic instruments?
a. iodophors
b. ethyl alcohol 70%
c. phenolic compounds
d. activated glutaraldehyde - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. Activated glutaraldehyde is a high-
level disinfectant widely used for disinfection of endoscopes.
Which of the following is the administration route for thrombin?
a. local infiltration
,b. topical application
c. intravenous injection
d. intramuscular injection - CORRECT-ANSWERSb. Thrombin may be applied topically, in
a solution or as a powder, but should never be introduced into a large blood vessel,
because significant intravascular clotting and death may result.
Gl0ve powder is normally wiped from the gloved hand, because it has the potential to
cause
a. dehiscence
b. infections
c. granulomas
d. contamination - CORRECT-ANSWERSc. Glove powder is a sterile foreign body whose
reaction with tissue can cause granulomas.
Which of the following procedures is the removal of the entire orbital content, including
the periosteum?
a. recession
b. resection
c. evisceration
,d. exenteration - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. Exenteration removes everything in the gloval
orbit due to malignancies.
Which of the following is MOST commonly used for wound closure in the presence of
infection?
a. stainless steel
b. polyglactin-910
c. plain gut
d. silk - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. Stainless steel suture is recommended for use in infected
areas, because it is non-absorbable with indefinite tensile strength.
When preparing the Sterrad sterilization system for use in the surgical area, which of the
following outlets must be available?
a. suction
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. electrical - CORRECT-ANSWERSd. The Sterrad sterilization system requires electricity
to operated.
When can instrument counts be omitted?
a. if the incision is too small for an instrument to become buried
, b. when the surgical technologist in the circulator role becomes too busy
c. if instruments are needed in another operating room
d. when the patient is receiving outpatient surgery - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. The count
can be deleted if significant risk for a retained item is unlikely and falls within hospital
protocols.
When assisting with the closure of a skin incision and operating the skin stapler, the
surgical technologist in the scrub role is placing the staples through which two layers?
a. cuticular and subcuticular
b. subicular and subcutaneous
c. subcuticular and subcutaneous
d. subcutaneous and fascia - CORRECT-ANSWERSa. These layers are the two most outer
layers of the skin and are closed together by the skin stapler.
Which of the following is the definition of instrument sterilization?
a. surgical cleaning with an antiseptic
b. manual decontamination
c. destruction of microorganisms
d. reduction of bacteria - CORRECT-ANSWERSc. Sterilization is the destruction of all
microogranisms.
