Assisting with Minor Surgery

Question 1

What is the MA’s role in minor surgical procedures generally?

Answer 1

• knowledgeable procedures performed
• prepare patient for surgery
• assist practitioner during surgery
• care for the patient after surgery
• ensure surgical asepsis practices

Question 2

What are the MA’s administrative tasks in minor surgical procedures?

Answer 2

• preauthorization
• consent
• pre-op education
• post-op instructions

Question 3

What are the MA’s clinical roles in minor surgical procedures?

Answer 3

• prep room and equipment
• assist during surgery
• dressing wounds, remove sutures, staples
• clean room and equipment

Question 4

When should you use local anesthetics?

Answer 4

minor surgical procedure
- medication that causes a loss of sensation

Question 5

Why should anesthetics be used?

Answer 5

• diagnose an illness
• repair an injury
• removal of a wart, skin tag or other small growth

Question 6

What supplies are needed for mole/cyst removal?

Answer 6

• local anesthetic
• scalpel
• suture supplies

Question 7

What should the MA do for a mole/cyst removal procedure?

Answer 7

• obtain detailed history/change in mole
• obtain family history/cancer
• specimen to be sent to lab for evaluation
• instruct patient to monitor wound, return if infection occurs, follow up suture removal, if needed

Question 8

What supplies are needed during an ingrown toenail removal?

Answer 8

• local anesthetic
• sterile scissors, forceps, hemostats
• bandaging materials

Question 9

What should a MA do during ingrown toenail removal?

Answer 9

• notify patient that there will be discomfort
• patient to soak area in warm water to facilitate healing
• assist provider
• bandage wound

Question 10

What is cryosurgery for?

Answer 10

exposes tissues to extreme cold to destroy cells

Question 11

What supplies are needed for cryosurgery?

Answer 11

liquid nitrogen

Question 12

What is the role of a MA in cryosurgery?

Answer 12

• provide patient support and instructions
• discomfort as tissue warms
• assist with procedures

Question 13

What is electrosurgery/electrocauterization?

Answer 13

electrical current sent through tissue to stop bleeding, destroy polyps, or break scar tissue

Question 14

What is needed for electrosurgery?

Answer 14

electrocautery unit

Question 15

What is the role of a MA during electrosurgery?

Answer 15

provide patient care and wound care

Question 16

What is colposcopy/hysteroscopy?

Answer 16

using instruments to inspect vaginal area, cervix, uterus

Question 17

What supplies are needed for hysteroscopy?

Answer 17

• exam table with stirrups
• colposcope/hysteroscope
• biopsy forceps

Question 18

What is the role of a MA during hysteroscopy?

Answer 18

• patient into lithotomy position
• notify patient of discomfort
• provide patient instructions
• assist provider
• prepare specimens for transport

Question 19

What is I & D?

Answer 19

incision and drainage

Question 20

What is laser surgery?

Answer 20

uses special light beams to cut tissue

Question 21

What should MAs do prior to suture removal?

Answer 21

• inspect wound for healing, draining, infection
• if crusting, soak before removal

Question 22

What supplies are needed for suture removal?

Answer 22

• suture removal tool
• scissors
• forceps
• wound care supplies
• gauze
• steri-strips

Question 23

What is the role of a MA during suture removal?

Answer 23

• note the number of sutures/staples that were used
• stop procedure if gaping of the wound occurs
• when removing sutures, cut close to the knot and pull with forceps by grabbing the knot and pulling toward the wound
• apply wound care and educate patients on care and procedures to avoid infection

Question 24

What is a laceration?

Answer 24

jagged, open wound in the skin that can extend down into the underlying tissue

Question 25

What is a puncture wound?

Answer 25

- deep wound caused by sharp object - may require tdap injection if by metal object

Question 26

What is debridement?

Answer 26

removal of debris or dead tissue from the wound - helps to expose healthy tissue and promote healing

Question 27

How should you clean a wound?

Answer 27

- clean thoroughly with soap and water - irrigate with sterile saline solution or sterile water

Question 28

What instruments are used for cutting and dissecting instruments?

Answer 28

scalpels scissors

Question 29

What instruments are used for grasping and clamping?

Answer 29

forceps hemostats towel clamps

Question 30

What instruments are needed for suturing?

Answer 30

- needles - needle holder - sutures - syringes - instrument packs

Question 31

What is surgical asepsis?

Answer 31

removal of all microorganisms, including spores - must be used during invasive procedures - when penetrating skin or mucous membranes

Question 32

What does surgical asepsis start with?

Answer 32

- sanitizing and disinfecting instruments - cleaning and scrubbing with germicidal soap and water - allow instruments to dry

Question 33

How can you sterilize tools?

Answer 33

- autoclave - pressurized steam

Question 34

How can we prepare items for the autoclave?

Answer 34

- wrapped and labeled - porous fabric, paper, plastic - sterile pack (instruments used together) - label with non-toxic marker (identity of items inside wrapping, person completing procedure, expiration date)

Question 35

What is surgical scrub?

Answer 35

- removes more microorganisms than routine handwashing - different than aseptic hand washing = sterile scrub brush instead of nail brush = hands and forearms are washed = hands above the elbows = sterile towels instead of paper towels = sterile gloves after hands are dried

Question 36

What are the rules of sterile gloves?

Answer 36

- put on after surgical scrub - only touch items in the sterile field - if the glove is damaged, anything it touches is contaminated

Question 37

What area is considered nonsterile?

Answer 37

1 inch around sterile field

Question 38

How do you maintain a sterile field?

Answer 38

- open packages so they drop onto sterile field - sterile liquids should be poured from the side of the sterile field - don't let liquid leak on to the field - don't leave it unattended - medication vials should be cleaned with alcohol before holding with two hands for the provider to inject with a needle

Question 39

What are the important preoperative procedures?

Answer 39

- obtain written and informed consent - answer patient questions - prepare the patient in gown and position and drape the patient - surgical skin preparation = remove hair if needed = apply antiseptic