Ch 44 Assisting with Minor Surgery Study Guide

When are sutures typically removed after minor surgery?

5 to 10 days after surgery

When placing items on a sterile field, stand back ________ inches

8-12

On which type of wound would staples be used?

A long, deep wound across the leg

Which of the following is not part of the medical assistants role in minor surgical procedures?

Administer general anesthesia

When assisting as a sterile assistant during a minor surgery, when should you glove?

After removing the sterile towel covering the sterile field

Which of the following occurs during the inflammatory phase of healing?

Blood vessels in the affected area constrict

Which step helps prevent a latex glove allergy?

Clean areas contaminated with latex-containing dust frequently

When preparing the patients skin for surgery, after applying the antiseptic what is the next step?

Cover the area with a sterile, fenestrated drape, from front to back

Which of the following is the appropriate way to pour a sterile solution into a sterile bowl that is on the sterile field?

Cover the label on the bottle with the palm of your hand to keep the label dry

What instruments are needed to remove sutures correctly?

Forceps and scissors

How should you hold your hands during a surgical scrub?

Higher than your elbows

Where should you place your hands after you have donned sterile gloves?

In front of you, between your shoulders and waist

Which of the following would you include when preparing a room for laser surgery?

Make sure everyone in the room, including the patient, wears safety goggles

Which of the following is a duty of the floater in surgery?

Measure the patient's vital signs during surgery and observe for a reaction to the anesthetic

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?

Notify the physician that the number of sutures removed does not match the record

To prevent a nonsurgical wound from becoming infected, first clean around the wound with

Soap and water

Which of the following should you use to clean under your fingernails during a surgical scrub?

Sterile brush

Which of the following are characteristics of a nonabsorbable sutures?

They must be removed after substantial healing has taken place

Why is it necessary to perform a surgical scrub before assisting in a surgical procedure, even though you will be wearing surgical gloves?

To add protection in case a glove is punctured

When setting up a sterile field, why should you unfold the outermost fold of a sterile pack away from yourself?

To avoid reaching across the uncovered sterile items to unfold the other flaps

Why is it important to check each suture to ensure that the entire suture has been removed?

To prevent infection

What is the purpose of a surgical scrub?

To remove microorganisms more effectively than routine hand washing

What should you do to protect the surgical wound after a minor surgical procedure?

clean the wound with antiseptic and dress the wound

What is the purpose of surgical asepsis?

eliminate all microorganisms

Which surgical instruments are used to close off blood vessels?

hemostats

The type of administration of local anesthetic depends on ______________

how painful the procedure will be.

An advantage of laser surgery is that ______________

it promotes quick healing and prevents infection

The size of a syringe or a needle varies according to __________

its usage

Minor surgical procedures typically involve _____________

local anesthetics

Anesthesia refers to _________

loss of sensation

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 ______________

obtain another unopened sterile dressing

Why is it necessary to set up a sterile field before removing sutures?

prevent contamination of the wound.

Which surgical instruments are used to explore wounds or body cavities and to locate or clear blockages?

probes

Instrument trays and packs are ______________

sterile instruments used for a specific procedure that are placed together

Which of the following defines debridement?

the surgical removal of debris or dead tissue from a wound

Following the proper procedure for assisting after a minor surgery, how often should you change gloves?

twice