APU/PACU
A patient arrives in PACU following general anesthesia. Their SPO2 is 88% despite supplemental oxygen. Before immediately escelating oxygen delivery, what should youasses first.
What is airway patency and adequacy of ventelation.
Before an instrument can be sterilized, what process must occure first, and why is it essential?
What is thorough cleaning and decontamination.
During a surgical procedure, what is the primary responsibility of the scrub person regarding the sterile field?
What is to maintain the sterility and integrity of the sterile field throughout the procedure.
Before and after applying a cast or splint, what three components of a neurovascualr assessment should an Ortho Tech be particularly concerned with?
What is Circulation, Sensation, and Movement. (CSM).
During a pap smear, the provider uses a cytobrush to collect cells from the endocervical canal. Why is collecting from this area important?
What is to obtain endocervical/columnar cells. to ensure the zone has been adequately sampled.
A post-op patient becomes restless, tachycardic, heypertensive, and complains of severe pain. Their SPO2 is normal. What are two common causes you should consider before assumng the patient is simply "coming out of anesthesia"?
What is pain and hypoxia/ hypercapnia.
You open a wrapped surgical tray and notice the chemical indicator has changed appropriately, but the package is damp. what should you do and why?
What is do not use it. A wet package is considered compromised and must be reprocessed.
Before passing a surgical instrument to the surgeon, what should the scrub person consider besides simply identifying the instrument?
What is considering how the surgeon will use it and the correct handoff allowing the instrument to be safely received.
When applying a long leg cast, why should extra padding be placed over prominant bony areas?
What is to protect the skin and underlying tissue from pressure, friction, and cast related injury.
Which sexually transmitted infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer?
What is the human papilloma virus (HPV).
During PACU recovery, a pateint develops inspiratory stridor, suprasternal retractions, and paradoxical chest movement shortly after extubation. What airway complication is most likely occuring?
What is laryngospasm.
A sterilization load was processed on September 11, 2026. is was put into sterilizer 1 and was the 4th load. What is the Julian date for that day and load sticker?
What is day 254; 1 254 4
During a procedure, the surgeon ask for a kelly clamp, but the scrub person anticipates that the surgeon will need a right angle clamp for the next step. What principle of surgical assisiting is being demonstrated by having the instrument ready before requested.
What is anticipation.
A patient with a newly applies fiberglass cast complains that their fingers are becoming increasingly numb and painful. What is the priority concern?
What is Neurovascular compromise.
A pap smear is collected, but the specimen contains an excessive amount of blood and inflammatory material. What or how can the cytology result be affected?
What is blood and inflammatory material can obscure cervical cells and make the specimen unsatisfactory or harder to interpret.
A PACU patient develops increasing somolence, respiratory rate of 6/min, pinpoint pupils, and decreasing SPO2 after recieving fentanyl. What is the priority intervention and what reversal agent may be indicated?
What is support the airway and ventilation immediately; naloxone.
A package is labeled 26254. Assuming the first two digits represent the year and the last three represent the day of the year, what calender date does this corrospond to?
What is September 11, 2026
During a procedure, the surgeon ask for an instrument that is not currently on the mayo stand. The scrub person knows it is in the back table but cannot immediately locate it. What is the safest action to take while maintaining the sterile field?
What is communicate the issue to the circulator and have them them retrieve the needed sterile item using the proper technique.
An ortho tech is assisting with a reduction of a displaced fracture. Before and after the reduction, why is it important to document and compare the patients distal neurovascular status?
What is to establish a base line before manipulation, and identify any new neurovascular compromises.
Which two high risk HPV types are responsible for the majority of HPV related cervical cancers and are specifically targeted by current cervical cancer screening and prevention strategies?
What is HPV 16 and HPV 18.
A patient recovering from general anasthesia develops rapidly increasing temperature, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, rising end tidal CO2, and metabolic/respiratory acidosis. What life-threatning complications should you suspect, and what medication is the definitive treatment?
What is malignant hyperthermia; dentrolene.
A steam sterilizer reaches the appropriate temperature and pressure, but residual air remains trapped inside the chamber, preventing proper steam contact with the load. What sterilizer system is responsible for removing this trapped air to allow adequate steam penetration?
What is the dynamic air-removal/ vacuum system.
During a vascular repair, the surgeon requests a needle holder. The scrub person has both a Mayo-Hegar and a Castroviejo available. Which would generally be more appropriate for handling a very small, fine vascualr needle?
What is the Castroviejo.
A patient with a long bone fracture develops increasing pain that seems dispreportionate to the injury, pain with passive stretch, tense swelling, and progressive sensorychanges despite appropriate immobilization. what limb threatning complication sould the ortho tech recognize?
What is Acute compartment syndrome.
During a pap collection, the provider obtains cells from both the ectocervix and the endocervix but not the transformative zone. Why is the transformative zone specifically important when screening for the cervical neoplasia?
What is the transformative zone is where metaplasia occurs and where most cervical precancerous lesions originate.