CSFA CSFA Hemostasis and Wound Closure 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which electrosurgical mode uses a continuous waveform to cut tissue by rapidly heating cells until they vaporize?
- Coagulation mode
- Cut mode (Correct answer)
- Blend mode
- Bipolar mode
Correct answer: Cut mode
Cut mode uses a continuous high-frequency current that rapidly vaporizes intracellular water, slicing through tissue.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of using a pledget in cardiac surgery?
- To mark suture lines
- To reinforce sutures in fragile tissue (Correct answer)
- To absorb excess irrigation fluid
- To identify vessels for ligation
Correct answer: To reinforce sutures in fragile tissue
Pledgets are small felt or Teflon bolsters used to reinforce sutures in friable or thin cardiac tissue to prevent tearing.
Question 3: Topical thrombin works by converting which clotting factor to its active form?
- Factor VII
- Factor X
- Fibrinogen (Correct answer)
- Factor V
Correct answer: Fibrinogen
Topical thrombin directly converts fibrinogen to fibrin, forming a clot at the site of application.
Question 4: Which suture material is the first choice for closing a contaminated abdominal wound due to its resistance to infection?
- Silk
- Chromic catgut
- Polypropylene (Prolene) (Correct answer)
- Polyglactin 910 (Vicryl)
Correct answer: Polypropylene (Prolene)
Polypropylene is monofilament and non-absorbable, resisting bacterial colonization better than braided or natural sutures in contaminated fields.
Question 5: A bone wax is used intraoperatively primarily to achieve hemostasis in which structure?
- Arterial bleeding points
- Cut bone surfaces (Correct answer)
- Venous sinuses in soft tissue
- Liver lacerations
Correct answer: Cut bone surfaces
Bone wax is a mechanical hemostatic agent applied to cut bone edges to occlude the marrow sinusoids and stop bleeding.
Question 6: What distinguishes a figure-of-eight suture from a simple interrupted suture?
- It passes through tissue twice in a crossing pattern, distributing tension over a wider area (Correct answer)
- It is placed subcutaneously only
- It uses absorbable material exclusively
- It is tied before placement
Correct answer: It passes through tissue twice in a crossing pattern, distributing tension over a wider area
A figure-of-eight suture crosses over itself, engaging tissue at two points and distributing closure tension more broadly than a simple interrupted suture.
CSFA CSFA Hemostasis and Wound Closure 1
Which electrosurgical mode uses a continuous waveform to cut tissue by rapidly heating cells until they vaporize?