Surgical Counts & Documentation 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 Surgical Counts & Documentation flashcards as text
When should the initial surgical count be performed?
Answer: After the patient is draped and before the first incision
The initial count is performed after the sterile field is established and before the first incision to create a baseline accounting of all items.
Which categories of items are included in a standard surgical count?
Answer: Sponges, sharps, instruments, and miscellaneous items
Standard surgical counts include sponges, sharps (needles and blades), instruments, and miscellaneous items such as vessel loops and umbilical tapes.
Who is responsible for performing surgical counts in the OR?
Answer: The scrub technician and the circulating nurse together
Surgical counts are a shared responsibility between the scrub technician and the circulating nurse, who perform the count simultaneously and concurrently.
How must sponges be counted to ensure an accurate surgical count?
Answer: Individually, with each sponge separated and visually verified
Sponges must be counted individually and separated from each other so each one is visually confirmed, preventing hidden items from being overlooked.
What action must be taken immediately if the final count before wound closure is incorrect?
Answer: Notify the surgeon immediately and search the field before closing
An incorrect count requires immediate notification of the surgeon and a thorough search of the surgical field, drapes, and surrounding area before wound closure to prevent retained items.
Why are surgical sponges manufactured with radiopaque markers embedded in them?
Answer: To allow detection by X-ray imaging if inadvertently retained in the patient
Radiopaque markers embedded in surgical sponges allow them to be detected on X-ray imaging, serving as a safety backup in case a sponge is inadvertently retained.
At which additional intraoperative point must a surgical count be performed beyond the opening and closing counts?
Answer: Before closure of any cavity within a cavity
A count must be performed before closure of a body cavity within a cavity (e.g., before closing the uterus within the peritoneal cavity) to prevent items from being trapped in an inner space.