Chapter 44
Assisting with Minor Surgery
Multiple Choice Questions
1. | A small amount of tissue removed from the body for examination under a microscope is a(n) ____.
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2. | A jagged, open wound in the skin that extends down into the underlying tissue is a(n) ____.
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3. | Which of the following defines debridement?
A. | A collection of pus that forms as a result of infection |
B. | The surgical removal of debris or dead tissue from a wound |
C. | A deep wound caused by a sharp object |
D. | The use of extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue |
E. | The process of aspirating fluid and tissue cells through a needle |
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4. | The first step in preventing a nonsurgical wound from becoming infected is ____.
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5. | Which of the following occurs during the inflammatory phase of healing?
B. | Blood vessels in the affected area constrict |
D. | Skin cells at the edge of the wound move together to close off the wound |
E. | A scab forms over the wound |
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6. | The proliferation phase of healing is characterized by ____.
A. | a constriction of blood vessels |
B. | the formation of scar tissue |
C. | a release of white blood cells |
D. | the development of new tissue |
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7. | Which of the following occurs in the maturation phase of healing?
A. | The blood clots and seals off the wound. |
B. | Skin cells at the edges of the wound begin to move together to close off the wound. |
C. | A continuous layer of skin cells thickens and pushes off the scab, leaving a scar. |
D. | White blood cells are released. |
E. | The wound contracts under the scab. |
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8. | A wound will heal better if the edges are brought close together or ____.
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9. | Edges of an incision that are approximated ____.
A. | are overgrown with unhealthy tissue and require surgical removal of the dead tissue |
B. | protect the area from contamination and minimize scab and scar formation |
C. | disrupt the tissue's blood supply by rupturing blood vessels throughout the area |
D. | delay the healing process because of the infection present |
E. | must be debrided to remove the jagged edges |
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10. | Which of the following are characteristics of absorbable sutures?
A. | They are made of gut and do not require removal after the wound has healed. |
B. | They are used for the outside layer. |
C. | They must be removed after wound healing is well under way. |
D. | They are made of silk, nylon, or Dacron. |
E. | They are inserted into the skin with a disposable staple unit. |
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11. | Which of the following are characteristics of nonabsorbable sutures?
A. | They are made of a sterile strand of collagen fibers. |
B. | They are used for the deep inner layers of the wound. |
C. | They must be removed after substantial healing has taken place. |
D. | They do not have to be removed after the wound has healed. |
E. | They are used when there is considerable stress on the incision. |
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12. | On which type of wound would staples be used?
A. | A small, superficial cut on the finger |
B. | The area where a mole was removed on the upper arm |
C. | A long, deep wound across the leg |
D. | An area inside the mouth where the dentist accidentally scraped the tissue |
E. | A puncture wound in the upper arm |
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13. | Which of the following uses an intense beam of light to cut away tissue?
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14. | An advantage of laser surgery is that ____.
A. | it promotes quick healing and prevents infection |
B. | a local anesthetic is never necessary, because the cold itself reduces sensation |
C. | no instructions on wound care are required after the procedure |
D. | no dressing is applied after the procedure |
E. | sterile instruments are not necessary |
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15. | Which of the following would you include when preparing a room for laser surgery?
A. | Open the blinds and shades to let the light in |
B. | Uncover any shiny or reflective surfaces |
C. | Make sure everyone in the room, including the patient, wears safety goggles |
D. | Place cotton-tipped applicators and liquid nitrogen within the physician's reach |
E. | Place paper items such as wrappers from instruments near the laser |
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16. | How does a laser cut away tissue?
A. | It vaporizes unwanted tissue. |
B. | Extreme cold destroys unwanted tissue. |
C. | A needle heated by electric current destroys the target tissue. |
D. | It removes all unwanted tissue with a sharp blade. |
E. | The bright light shrinks the tissue. |
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17. | Which method uses extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue?
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18. | A medical assistant should include which of the following in preparing a patient for cryosurgery?
A. | Place a grounding pad somewhere on the patient's body |
B. | Ask the patient to put on safety goggles |
C. | Inform the patient that the initial sensation of cold will be followed by a burning sensation |
D. | Position the patient for the administration of a general anesthetic |
E. | Assist with the administration of a local anesthetic |
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19. | Which method uses a needle, probe, or loop heated by electric current to destroy target tissue?
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20. | Which of the following should you include in preparing a patient for electrocauterization?
A. | Tell the patient that more than one freezing cycle may be necessary |
B. | Ask the patient to wear safety goggles during the procedure |
C. | Place a grounding pad somewhere on the patient's body |
D. | Tell the patient that a sterile dressing will be applied after the procedure |
E. | Reassure the patient that some pain, swelling, and redness is normal |
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21. | Which of the following would you include in teaching a patient who has had cryosurgery?
A. | Tell the patient to protect the site from exposure to the sun |
B. | Encourage the patient to apply a heating pad to the surgical site |
C. | Inform the patient that a large, painful, bloody blister may form |
D. | Tell the patient that a dressing is never necessary |
E. | Tell the patient to call the doctor if swelling or redness occurs. |
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22. | Which of the following would you include in the care of a patient who has had electrocauterization?
A. | Cleanse the wound with an antiseptic and apply a sterile dressing |
B. | Tell the patient to call the doctor if the blister becomes too painful |
C. | Encourage the patient to apply ice to the surgical site |
D. | Explain to the patient that a scab or crust generally forms over the area |
E. | Tell the patient to protect the site from sun exposure |
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23. | Which condition puts a patient at risk for wound-healing problems?
A. | A diet rich in vitamin C |
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24. | Which type of scissors is used to remove dressings?
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25. | The scissor-like instruments used for cutting nails or thick materials are ____.
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26. | Which of the following is used for scraping tissue?
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27. | Instruments that are most often used to grasp or hold objects are ____.
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28. | Which surgical instruments are used to close off blood vessels?
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29. | Surgical instruments used to hold back the sides of a wound or incision for greater access are ____.
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30. | A slender, pointed surgical instrument used to enlarge a body opening, such as a tear duct, is a ____.
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31. | Which surgical instruments are used to explore wounds or body cavities and to locate or clear blockages?
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32. | Which of the following is a problem related to latex gloves?
A. | Latex gloves leak more than vinyl gloves. |
B. | Latex gloves do not prevent contamination as well as vinyl gloves. |
C. | There is an increased incidence of latex allergy with latex gloves among healthcare workers. |
D. | Latex gloves cannot be sterilized. |
E. | Latex gloves do not fit as snugly as vinyl or nitrile gloves. |
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33. | Allergic reactions to latex gloves are ____.
A. | minor and never cause serious reactions |
B. | generally caused by the latex protein that mixes with the powder |
C. | very rare among healthcare professionals |
D. | only temporary, until the patient develops a tolerance to the latex |
E. | avoidable by undergoing desensitization |
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34. | Which step helps prevent a latex glove allergy?
A. | Select gloves with more powder on the inside |
B. | Put on gloves with slightly wet hands |
C. | Avoid the use of hand lotion |
D. | Clean areas contaminated with latex-containing dust frequently |
E. | Wear gloves as often as possible to desensitize your skin |
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35. | In which surgical procedure would an onychectomy tray be used?
C. | Foreign body or growth removal |
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36. | A Mayo stand is a(n) ____.
A. | movable, stainless steel instrument tray on a stand |
C. | incision and drainage tray |
E. | male sterilization tray |
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37. | The medical assistant accidentally touches the inside of the sterile dressing package with no gloves on. The appropriate step for the medical assistant to take now is to ____.
A. | avoid further touching of the inside of the package |
B. | obtain another unopened sterile dressing |
C. | hand the dressing to the physician |
D. | continue to assist the physician without saying anything |
E. | pour alcohol over the dressing to sterilize it |
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38. | Which of the following is the correct action for the medical assistant to take when assisting a practitioner during a sterile surgical procedure?
A. | Cover the open items that are not being used with a paper towel |
B. | Hand the physician items outside the sterile field with the tips of the transfer forceps |
C. | Hand the items to the physician before putting gloves on |
D. | Avoid reaching over the sterile field |
E. | Place unsterile items on the outer 1 inch of the sterile field |
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39. | Which of the following is the appropriate way to add instruments to a sterile field?
A. | Hand-place the sterile instrument on the sterile field |
B. | Stand close to the sterile field and open the instrument pack |
C. | Reach across the sterile field with the instrument to be added |
D. | Place the instrument using sterile transfer forceps |
E. | Place the instrument within the outer 1 inch of the sterile field |
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40. | What part of the sterile field is considered contaminated?
B. | All of the sterile field is sterile |
E. | The edge of the field closest to the patient |
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41. | Which of the following is the appropriate way to pour a sterile solution into a sterile bowl that is on a sterile field?
A. | Cover the label on the bottle with the palm of your hand to keep the label dry |
B. | Pour the liquid directly into the bowl and avoid discarding any |
C. | Pour the liquid quickly into the bowl |
D. | Place the cap of the bottle facing down |
E. | Hold the bottle at an angle that allows you to reach over the sterile area |
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42. | Which preoperative instruction is given to a patient who is scheduled for a minor surgical procedure in the medical office?
A. | Tell the patient to eat a light breakfast right before surgery |
B. | Tell the patient to bring someone to drive him or her home |
C. | Tell the patient to take all regular medications before surgery |
D. | Avoid telling the patient of the possible risks |
E. | Tell the patient it does not matter what she wears because she will change into a gown anyway |
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43. | Which is the appropriate way to cleanse an area before surgery?
A. | Place a sterile towel around the surgical site |
B. | Cleanse the surgical site with alcohol |
C. | Begin at the outer edges of the surgical site and work inward |
D. | Clean an area at least 2 inches larger than the surgical site |
E. | Clean in a zigzag path across the preparation area |
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44. | When preparing the patient’s skin for surgery, after applying the antiseptic what is the next step?
A. | Swab only the surgical site with the antiseptic |
B. | Pat the antiseptic dry |
C. | Cover the area with a sterile, fenestrated drape, from front to back |
D. | Reach over the area to position the patient correctly for the procedure |
E. | Trim the hair from around the surgical site |
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45. | The most commonly used antiseptic for minor surgery is ____.
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46. | Which of the following is characteristic of a topical anesthetic?
A. | It is injected under the skin. |
B. | It is used when the pain is severe. |
C. | It is applied directly to the skin. |
D. | It takes only 30 seconds for the area to become sufficiently anesthetized. |
E. | It provides general anesthesia. |
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47. | Which of the following are characteristics of epinephrine?
A. | It constricts blood vessels and prolongs the action of the local anesthetic. |
B. | It is useful in patients with heart or respiratory disease. |
C. | It is used in areas of the fingers, toes, nose, and ears. |
D. | It decreases wound infection rates. |
E. | It increases the rate at which the anesthetic spreads into the tissue. |
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48. | Which of the following is a duty of the floater in surgery?
A. | Close the instruments on the sterile tray because they are left open during sterilization |
B. | Measure the patient's vital signs during surgery and observe for a reaction to the anesthetic |
C. | Pass instruments to the doctor during surgery |
D. | Retract the edges of the wound during surgery to assist the doctors in viewing the area |
E. | Swab fluids from the incision or wound |
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49. | Duties of the sterile scrub assistant include
A. | passing instruments to the doctor during surgery. |
B. | measuring vital signs regularly throughout surgery. |
C. | observing the patient for a reaction to the anesthetic. |
D. | keeping a record of when surgery began and when it was completed. |
E. | adjusting lighting as needed. |
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50. | Which of the following should be included in a patient’s postoperative wound care instructions?
A. | Clean the wound every other day |
B. | Clean the wound with isopropyl alcohol |
C. | Change the dressing if it becomes wet, dirty, or soaked with blood |
D. | Cover the wound with a wet dressing |
E. | Remove the dressing after 12 hours |
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51. | Which of the following is used in processing biopsy specimens for laboratory examination?
D. | 10% chlorine bleach solution |
E. | Normal saline solution |
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52. | What is the reason for checking the date and sterilization indicator on an instrument pack prior to opening?
A. | To be sure items inside will work |
B. | To avoid putting the patient at risk for postoperative infection |
C. | To be sure the package was stored properly |
D. | To make sure all the proper instruments are in the pack |
E. | To be sure the items inside have not been exposed to moisture |
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53. | The instruments in the figure are ____.
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54. | What are the instruments pictured here?
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55. | The instruments pictured here are ____.
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56. | What are the instruments pictured here?
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57. | What is the surgical instrument pictured here?
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58. | These surgical instruments are ____.
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59. | What are these surgical instruments?
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60. | Carrie is a new medical assistant who is assisting for the first time as a floater for a minor surgical procedure. The physician removes tissue from the incision and asks Carrie for the container in which to place the specimen for laboratory examination. Carrie grasps the specimen container and reaches across the tray so the physician can place the specimen in the container. What did Carrie do wrong?
A. | She should not have touched the sterile specimen container. |
B. | She should not have reached across the tray. |
C. | She should have asked the sterile scrub assistant to offer the container. |
D. | She should have used transfer forceps to grasp the tissue. |
E. | She should have placed the specimen container on the tray. |
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61. | Mr. Benson is back in the office for his follow-up appointment after having a laceration on his right arm sutured eight days ago. The physician examines the wound, tells Mr. Benson that it is healing nicely, and asks you to remove the sutures. You remove 14 sutures from Mr. Benson's arm and compare this to the number of sutures recorded in Mr. Benson's chart. The chart says Mr. Benson has 15 sutures. What should you do next?
A. | Nothing; the other suture probably came out by itself sometime in the last eight days |
B. | Correct the medical record to show that only 14 sutures were placed in Mr. Benson's arm |
C. | Notify the physician that the number of sutures removed does not match the record |
D. | Document your removal of 14 sutures on today's date |
E. | Document your removal of 15 sutures on today's date |
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Fill in the Blank Questions
62. | A collection of pus that forms as a result of infection is a(n) ________.
________________________________________ |
63. | The loss of sensation, particularly the feeling of pain, is ________.
________________________________________ |
64. | The medication that causes the loss of sensation either locally or generally is called a(n) ________.
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65. | Healing speeds up if the edges of an incision or nonsurgical wound are ________ or brought together so the tissue surfaces are close to each other.
________________________________________ |
66. | A specimen of a small amount of tissue removed from the body for examination under a microscope is called a ______.
________________________________________ |
67. | The use of extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue is called ________; this procedure is often used to remove skin lesions and lesions on the cervix.
________________________________________ |
68. | ________ is the removal of debris or dead tissue from the wound to expose healthy tissue.
________________________________________ |
69. | A(n) ________ consists of sterile materials used to cover an incision.
________________________________________ |
70. | The procedure that uses a needle, probe, or loop heated by electric current to destroy the target tissue is called ________.
________________________________________ |
71. | A(n) ________ is an unsterile assistant who is free to move about the room and attend to unsterile needs.
________________________________________ |
72. | All biopsy specimens must be placed in a preservative to prevent changes in tissues. The most common preservative is a 10% ________ solution, which is a dilute solution of formaldehyde.
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73. | A surgical wound made by cutting into body tissue is a(n) ________.
________________________________________ |
74. | The initial phase of wound healing, in which bleeding is reduced as blood vessels in the affected area constrict, is the ________ phase.
________________________________________ |
75. | Skin cells at the edges of the wound begin to move together to close off the wound during the ________ phase of wound healing.
________________________________________ |
76. | Scar tissue forms during the ________ phase of wound healing.
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77. | Any procedures that occur during surgery are known as ________ procedures.
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78. | Any jagged, open wound in the skin that can extend down into the underlying tissue is called a(n) ________.
________________________________________ |
79. | Another name for a suture material that is either absorbable or nonabsorbable is ________.
________________________________________ |
80. | A movable, stainless steel instrument tray on a stand is a(n) ________ stand.
________________________________________ |
81. | The purpose of ________ _______ is to eliminate all microorganisms.
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82. | A common type of instrument tray that is used for the removal of a nail is called a(n) _______ tray.
________________________________________ |
83. | In the ________ period (after the surgical procedure), the duties of a medical assistant may include immediate care of the patient, proper cleaning of the surgical room, and follow-up care of the patient.
________________________________________ |
84. | During the ________ period, the medical assistant provides instructions to the patient prior to his or her surgical procedure.
________________________________________ |
85. | A deep wound caused by a sharp object is a(n) _______ wound.
________________________________________ |
86. | The area used during a surgical procedure that is free of microorganisms is the ________ ________.
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87. | A(n) ________ ________ assistant assists in handling sterile equipment during a surgical procedure.
________________________________________ |
88. | Anesthetics that are applied directly to the skin and affect only the area to which they are applied are ________ anesthetics.
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Multiple Choice Questions
89. | What is the name for the needle that has the suture material permanently attached to it?
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90. | Which instrument is used to grasp the scalpel blade when loading it on the scalpel handle?
D. | Tissue forceps with teeth |
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91. | When the medical assistant is responsible for cutting the suture for the practitioner, which length of the suture material should be left above the knot?
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Fill in the Blank Questions
92. | A requisition slip and a specimen container are placed in a special _________ bag labeled with a biohazard symbol and sent to the laboratory for processing.
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