AST certification exam with
correct answers 2025/2026
a blood pH of 7.5 indicates: - correct answersalkalosis
a brain tumor causing alteration of muscle tone, voluntary muscle coordination, gait and
balance would be located in the: - correct answerscerebellum
a congenital defect in which the fetal blood vessel between the pulmonary artery and aorta
does not close? - correct answerspatent ductus arteriosus
a fogarty catheter is used during a/an: - correct answersembolectomy
a laparotomy drape is placed on the left side inguinal area of the patient, but should have been
placed on the right side. what should be done to correct the error? - correct answersremove
drape and place new drape on right side
a mesh that is contradicted in the presence of infection is: - correct answersPTFE
a padded footboard is used in which surgical position? - correct answersreverse trendelenburg
a partially dislocated joint is called: - correct answerssubluxation
,a patient requires a stat cesarean. which of the following might be omitted? - correct
answerscounts
a patient who underwent an appendectomy enters the emergency department with severe
abdominal pain, constipation and vomiting. which of the following is occurring? - correct
answersobstructed bowel
a properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin: - correct answerssurgically clean
a surgeon indicates that she may place a shunt during a carotid endarterectomy. what should
the surgical technologist have available in the OR? - correct answersjavid
a surgeon tells a patient she has terminal cancer but requires prophylactic surgery to prevent a
bowel obstruction and the patient replies, "this can't be happening to me." which stage of grief
is the patient displaying? - correct answersdenial
a surgical technologist is talking with a patient in the OACU with arms folded and at a distance.
this could be interpreted by the patient as: - correct answersnegative
a term referring to a waxy secretion in the external ear canal is: - correct answerscerumen
a topical steroid used to reduce inflammation after eye surgery is: - correct answersdepo-
medrol
a type of bone-holding forceps is: - correct answersdingman
according to maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following is the patient satisfying when
he/she trusts the surgical team's abilities? - correct answerssafety
,according to OSHA standards, protective eyewear of some form must be worn: - correct
answerson all cases
air or fluid accumulation due to poorly approximated wound edges could result in: - correct
answersdead space
an example of a nonadherent inner layer dressing is: - correct answersXeroform
an injury patient sustains as a result of the care given by healthcare professionals is called: -
correct answersiatrogenic
another name for a tonsil suction is: - correct answersyankauer
another name for the tympanic membrane is the: - correct answerseardrum
at the end of a procedure, the surgeon asks for the local anesthetic to inject intra-articular.
where is the surgeon injecting the local drug? - correct answerswithin joint
before transporting instruments to the decontamination room, what should the surgical
technologist complete? - correct answerspresoak instruments in detergent solution
bone holding forceps are used for which type of fracture? - correct answersradius
cardiac muscles are controlled by which division of the nervous system? - correct
answerssympathetic
chest rolls should span the distance bilaterally between which two anatomical structures? -
correct answersacromioclavicular joint to iliac crest
, compression of the heart from excessive fluid or blood buildup is called: - correct
answerstamponade
during a CABG procedure, the saphenous vein is sutured to the: - correct answerscoronary
artery
during a cesarean section, which organ is freed from the uterus to prevent injury? - correct
answersbladder
during a cleft palate procedure, which equipment should the surgical technologist be prepared
to set up quickly? - correct answersdrill
during a kidney transplant, the renal vein of the donor kidney is anastomosed to the: - correct
answersexternal iliac vein
during a radical neck dissection with mandbulectomy, which bone is harvested for the graft? -
correct answersfibula
during a suprapubic prostatectomy, which needle holder may be used when reconstructing the
bladder outlet? - correct answersheaney
during a trabeculectomy, which two layers are incised at the beginning of the procedure? -
correct answersconjunctiva and tenon's capsule
during a TRAM procedure, which is used to identify and preserve the superior epigastric
arteries? - correct answersdoppler
correct answers 2025/2026
a blood pH of 7.5 indicates: - correct answersalkalosis
a brain tumor causing alteration of muscle tone, voluntary muscle coordination, gait and
balance would be located in the: - correct answerscerebellum
a congenital defect in which the fetal blood vessel between the pulmonary artery and aorta
does not close? - correct answerspatent ductus arteriosus
a fogarty catheter is used during a/an: - correct answersembolectomy
a laparotomy drape is placed on the left side inguinal area of the patient, but should have been
placed on the right side. what should be done to correct the error? - correct answersremove
drape and place new drape on right side
a mesh that is contradicted in the presence of infection is: - correct answersPTFE
a padded footboard is used in which surgical position? - correct answersreverse trendelenburg
a partially dislocated joint is called: - correct answerssubluxation
,a patient requires a stat cesarean. which of the following might be omitted? - correct
answerscounts
a patient who underwent an appendectomy enters the emergency department with severe
abdominal pain, constipation and vomiting. which of the following is occurring? - correct
answersobstructed bowel
a properly performed surgical scrub renders the skin: - correct answerssurgically clean
a surgeon indicates that she may place a shunt during a carotid endarterectomy. what should
the surgical technologist have available in the OR? - correct answersjavid
a surgeon tells a patient she has terminal cancer but requires prophylactic surgery to prevent a
bowel obstruction and the patient replies, "this can't be happening to me." which stage of grief
is the patient displaying? - correct answersdenial
a surgical technologist is talking with a patient in the OACU with arms folded and at a distance.
this could be interpreted by the patient as: - correct answersnegative
a term referring to a waxy secretion in the external ear canal is: - correct answerscerumen
a topical steroid used to reduce inflammation after eye surgery is: - correct answersdepo-
medrol
a type of bone-holding forceps is: - correct answersdingman
according to maslow's hierarchy of needs, which of the following is the patient satisfying when
he/she trusts the surgical team's abilities? - correct answerssafety
,according to OSHA standards, protective eyewear of some form must be worn: - correct
answerson all cases
air or fluid accumulation due to poorly approximated wound edges could result in: - correct
answersdead space
an example of a nonadherent inner layer dressing is: - correct answersXeroform
an injury patient sustains as a result of the care given by healthcare professionals is called: -
correct answersiatrogenic
another name for a tonsil suction is: - correct answersyankauer
another name for the tympanic membrane is the: - correct answerseardrum
at the end of a procedure, the surgeon asks for the local anesthetic to inject intra-articular.
where is the surgeon injecting the local drug? - correct answerswithin joint
before transporting instruments to the decontamination room, what should the surgical
technologist complete? - correct answerspresoak instruments in detergent solution
bone holding forceps are used for which type of fracture? - correct answersradius
cardiac muscles are controlled by which division of the nervous system? - correct
answerssympathetic
chest rolls should span the distance bilaterally between which two anatomical structures? -
correct answersacromioclavicular joint to iliac crest
, compression of the heart from excessive fluid or blood buildup is called: - correct
answerstamponade
during a CABG procedure, the saphenous vein is sutured to the: - correct answerscoronary
artery
during a cesarean section, which organ is freed from the uterus to prevent injury? - correct
answersbladder
during a cleft palate procedure, which equipment should the surgical technologist be prepared
to set up quickly? - correct answersdrill
during a kidney transplant, the renal vein of the donor kidney is anastomosed to the: - correct
answersexternal iliac vein
during a radical neck dissection with mandbulectomy, which bone is harvested for the graft? -
correct answersfibula
during a suprapubic prostatectomy, which needle holder may be used when reconstructing the
bladder outlet? - correct answersheaney
during a trabeculectomy, which two layers are incised at the beginning of the procedure? -
correct answersconjunctiva and tenon's capsule
during a TRAM procedure, which is used to identify and preserve the superior epigastric
arteries? - correct answersdoppler
