CVA Surgical and Laboratory Assisting 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the most critical step to take immediately after opening a sterile surgical pack to ensure sterility is maintained?
- Check the expiration or sterilization date on the pack
- Inspect the chemical indicator inside the pack (Correct answer)
- Verify the pack contents match the surgical procedure
- Place the pack on the Mayo stand immediately
Correct answer: Inspect the chemical indicator inside the pack
Inspecting the internal chemical indicator confirms that the pack was exposed to adequate sterilization conditions before the instruments are used.
Question 2: During a surgical procedure, a non-scrubbed assistant needs to pass a sterile item to the scrubbed surgeon. What is the correct method?
- Hand it directly to the surgeon
- Open the outer packaging and flip or drop the item onto the sterile field (Correct answer)
- Place it on the mayo stand after opening
- Use sterile gloves to hand it to the surgeon
Correct answer: Open the outer packaging and flip or drop the item onto the sterile field
The non-scrubbed assistant opens the outer packaging and flips or drops the sterile item onto the sterile field without touching the sterile inner packaging or field.
Question 3: Which blood chemistry value is the primary indicator of kidney function in veterinary patients?
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Correct answer)
- Total bilirubin
- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Correct answer: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine
BUN and creatinine are the primary markers of kidney function; elevated levels suggest decreased glomerular filtration rate and renal disease.
Question 4: What does the acronym SOAP stand for in the context of a veterinary medical record?
- Surgery, Observations, Assessment, Plan
- Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan (Correct answer)
- Symptoms, Observations, Analysis, Procedure
- Subjective, Objective, Analysis, Prognosis
Correct answer: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
SOAP is a structured medical record format: Subjective (history/complaints), Objective (physical findings), Assessment (diagnosis), and Plan (treatment).
Question 5: Which surgical procedure involves the removal of both ovaries and the uterus in a female animal?
- Ovariectomy
- Ovariohysterectomy (Correct answer)
- Hysterotomy
- Salpingectomy
Correct answer: Ovariohysterectomy
An ovariohysterectomy (OHE or spay) involves the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus to sterilize the female animal.
Question 6: When performing a fecal flotation test, what is the purpose of the flotation solution?
- To kill parasitic eggs so they can be counted
- To cause parasite eggs to float to the surface for microscopic examination (Correct answer)
- To dissolve fecal material for easier processing
- To stain parasite eggs for identification
Correct answer: To cause parasite eggs to float to the surface for microscopic examination
Flotation solutions have a higher specific gravity than parasite eggs, causing them to float to the surface of the solution where they can be collected on a coverslip.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the function of hemostatic forceps (hemostats) during surgery?
- They cut and suture tissue simultaneously
- They clamp blood vessels to control bleeding (Correct answer)
- They hold the incision open for visualization
- They are used to pass suture material through tissue
Correct answer: They clamp blood vessels to control bleeding
Hemostatic forceps (hemostats) are used to clamp blood vessels and control hemorrhage during surgical procedures.
