Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

What is an appropriate action to take after each surgical case?

1. Document all procedural details

2. Clean the entire operating room

3. Notify the next patient

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Document all procedural details

After each surgical case, documenting all procedural details is a critical action because it ensures a complete and accurate medical record. This documentation serves various essential functions: it provides a chronological account of the surgical procedure, outlines the techniques used, notes any complications that occurred, and records the materials and instruments utilized. This information is vital for future reference, supports continuity of care, and can be crucial in the event of legal inquiries or retrospective reviews. Following surgical protocols can also enhance patient safety and assist in quality improvement initiatives within the facility. While cleaning the operating room is indeed an important step, it is typically a responsibility handled by specific personnel trained in environmental cleaning, rather than being the surgical technologist's primary focus after each case. Notifying the next patient is part of the patient flow process but not specifically an action that the surgical team should take immediately after concluding a surgery.