Specialty Surgical Procedures 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 Specialty Surgical Procedures flashcards as text
During a thyroidectomy, which nerve must be identified and protected to prevent permanent voice change?
Answer: Recurrent laryngeal nerve
The recurrent laryngeal nerve runs in the tracheoesophageal groove and innervates the vocal cords; injury causes hoarseness or aphonia.
What is the purpose of intravascular heparin administration prior to clamping the aorta during an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair?
Answer: To prevent clot formation distal to the clamp
Systemic heparinization before aortic clamping prevents thrombus formation in the stagnant blood distal to the clamp and in the graft.
Which graft material is most commonly used for an abdominal aortic aneurysm open repair?
Answer: Woven Dacron (polyester) prosthesis
Woven Dacron (polyester) tube or bifurcated grafts are the standard prosthetic conduit for open AAA repair due to durability and handling characteristics.
During a robotic-assisted prostatectomy, the surgical technologist's primary intraoperative responsibility is:
Answer: Managing the sterile instrument table and docking instruments to the robot
The scrub surgical technologist manages the sterile field, passes instruments, and assists with docking robotic instruments during robotic-assisted procedures.
In pediatric cardiac surgery for a ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair, what material is typically used to close the defect?
Answer: Both A and C are correct
VSD closure may use autologous pericardium or synthetic PTFE patch, both of which become incorporated into surrounding tissue over time.
During a craniotomy, what is the purpose of applying bone wax to the cut edges of the skull?
Answer: To control bleeding from the diploic bone
Bone wax is a hemostatic agent mechanically packed into the diploic (cancellous) layer of the skull to control bleeding from bone edges.
Which special instrument is used to retract the nerve roots during lumbar microdiscectomy?
Answer: Nerve hook/root retractor
A nerve root retractor gently displaces the dural sac and nerve root to expose the herniated disc material without causing traction injury.