Question 2 of 21

Electronic scalpels can instantly cauterize cut tissue in order to prevent bleeding. However, on rare occasions they have been known to _______.

... Sparks from electronic scalpels can interact with operating room oxygen and contribute to the more than 500 surgical fires that occur each year.

Question 3 of 21

One type of forceps used to hold skin is called ________ tooth forceps.

... Rat tooth forceps have teeth that alternate on each side; this allows skin and dense tissue to be held without slipping.

Question 4 of 21

When using surgical scissors, the thumb and the _________ finger go into the rings; the other fingers help direct the cutting.

... Unlike common scissors, surgical scissors are opened and closed with the thumb and ring finger. For best control, just the fingertips are used.

Question 5 of 21

A dermatome is primarily used for what kind of surgery?

... A dermatome allows the surgeon to cut very thin slices of tissue for skin grafts. For instance, it is used in the case of severe burns.

Question 6 of 21

Thumb forceps are also called __________.

... Although they greatly resemble tweezers, thumb forceps have a distinct surgical purpose, so they should not be confused with any other pinching devices. They are called thumb forceps, and that's all.

Question 7 of 21

In 2010, students from ________ won third place in a collegiate invention contest for developing a new kind of surgical drill.

... Johns Hopkins students devised a drill attachment that detects changes in the speed, tilt and direction of drilling. Bioactive Surgical sponsored the project and is working on a commercial version of the tool.

Question 8 of 21

A significant stumbling block for robotic surgery is __________.

... "Latency" refers to the lag time between the doctor's hands and the robotic arms. If latency can be significantly decreased, doctors may be able to do remote robotic surgery. Currently, they must be in the same room as the robot.

Question 9 of 21

The ___________ surgical system is a famous telesurgical (remote) device that functions with the direct motions of the surgeon.

... Since 2000, the da Vinci surgical system has been used for laparoscopic (minimally invasive abdominal) surgery, allowing very delicate, close-up work.

Question 10 of 21

Which of the following is NOT a distinct advantage of robotic surgery?

... Although robotic surgery requires fewer staff people in the operating room, healthcare costs are still high. The cost of a robotic system can top $1 million, and yearly maintenance fees can exceed $100,000. The cost-benefit ratio has not yet been determined for robotic surgery.

Question 11 of 21

In a shared-control robotic surgery system, the robot ___________.

... This system helps limit the amount of physical trauma to the patient. If the human surgeon strays even slightly from the correct surgical site, the robot pushes the doctor's hand, reining it in.

Question 12 of 21

Supervisory-controlled surgery systems are automated. They require _________.

... Though technically "automated," these systems function with precise directions from the surgeon that include specific information about the body of the patient. These robotic systems are often used for knee- and hip-replacement surgery, but they must be carefully monitored, since no part of the program can be allowed to react to spontaneous occurrences.

Question 13 of 21

Though surgical clamps are usually used to stem blood flow, they are sometimes used to control ________.

... Clamps can also keep bacteria and body fluids other than blood from seeping out of or creeping into tissue during surgery.

Question 14 of 21

A rib spreader is what kind of surgical instrument?

... Retractors hold tissue and organs out of the surgeon's way. Rib spreaders are specifically used to move the ribs in order to access underlying tissue.

Question 15 of 21

A surgical trocar is often used for ________ surgery.

... A trocar is a pointed tool that is often used in laparoscopic surgery to introduce the camera and other instruments into the abdomen in a less invasive and traumatic manner.

Question 16 of 21

In 2009, a Czech surgeon left a foot-long spatula-like surgical instrument inside the ________ of a patient.

... After gynecological surgery, the instrument remained inside the abdomen of the patient. After months of pain, the tool was finally removed.

Question 17 of 21

A rongeur is a sharp surgical instrument used to cut tough bone or tissue. It comes from the French word for _______.

... A doctor might use a rongeur to sculpt bone during spinal surgery or shape bone in preparation for a graft. It has an extremely sharp edge, like a rodent's tooth.

Question 18 of 21

The use of staples in surgery ________.

... Victor Fischer and Humer Hultl invented the first surgical stapler in 1908.

Question 19 of 21

A handful of surgeons use scalpels made from _________ instead of stainless steel, citing their superior sharpness.

... Obsidian (volcanic glass) knives were used by our ancient ancestors, and some surgeons today, especially those who work on the facial area, prefer their use for delicate work.

Question 20 of 21

Pediatric surgeons sometimes face problems when instruments are too large for their patients. Child-size tools are not being widely developed, however, because _________.

... The FDA regulates surgical instruments, and it can take 10 years to get new devices approved. Research and development costs are very high, and the market demand for reduced-size tools is considered too small to make the investment.

Question 21 of 21

A 2012 report from the Center for Public Integrity found a problem with some surgical instruments: they were _______.

... Unfortunately, some surgical instruments are not being cleaned properly, the report found. Sometimes hospitals are not following manufacturers' directions, but other times the suggested procedures are still leaving blood, bone and infectious agents behind. For example, in 2009, at least seven patients at the Methodist Hospital in Houston contracted potentially deadly infections from surgical tools.

YOU SCORED: 0 out of 21 try again

MORE QUIZZES

Do you know your Keats from your Yeats? Take the famous poets quiz!

Does that voice sound familiar? Take the famous voiceovers quiz!

From Colombo to Castle -- try naming the fictional gumshoe in this quiz!