Instrument Tray Assembly Flashcards
7 cards from real CST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Instrument Tray Assembly flashcards as text
On an orthopedic tray, a periosteal elevator is used to:
Answer: Lift and separate periosteum from bone
A periosteal elevator (e.g., Cobb or Freer) is used to strip the periosteum from bone before cutting or working on the bone surface.
Which clamp on a general surgery tray is specifically designed to grasp the gallbladder during cholecystectomy?
Answer: Babcock clamp
The Babcock clamp has smooth, fenestrated jaws that gently encircle hollow or delicate organs like the gallbladder without crushing them.
The correct method for passing a sharp instrument to a surgeon on the sterile field is:
Answer: Neutral zone (hands-free) technique placing the instrument in a designated safe zone
The neutral zone or hands-free technique reduces sharps injuries by placing instruments in a predetermined area rather than direct hand-to-hand transfer.
Which instrument is used to approximate fascial or thick tissue edges during wound closure and included in most general surgery trays?
Answer: Needle holder
Needle holders hold suture needles securely and are essential for suturing fascial layers and closing wounds during any general surgical procedure.
What is the primary purpose of including a suction tip (e.g., Yankauer or Poole) on an instrument tray?
Answer: To remove blood and fluid from the operative field to maintain visualization
Suction tips maintain a clear operative field by continuously removing blood, irrigant, and other fluids that would obscure the surgeon's view.
When setting up a tray for a thyroid procedure, which instrument is uniquely important to include for identifying and protecting the parathyroid glands?
Answer: Bipolar electrosurgical forceps
Bipolar electrosurgical forceps allow precise hemostasis with minimal thermal spread, critical for protecting the delicate parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerve near the thyroid.
Which instrument is placed on a tray specifically to cut wire suture or sternal wires after cardiac surgery?
Answer: Wire cutter
A dedicated wire cutter is required to safely divide heavy steel sternal wires without damaging surrounding tissue or dulling other scissors.