Surgical Tech Practice Exam

The surgeon requires long, angled scissors to extend the arteriotomy. Which instrument should the surgical technologist provide?

1. Metzenbaum scissors

2. Potts Smith scissors

3. Scissors clamp

4. Curved scissors

The correct answer is: Potts Smith scissors

The surgical technologist should provide Potts Smith scissors in this scenario. These scissors are specifically designed for cutting and accessing blood vessels, making them particularly useful for procedures like arteriotomies, where the incision is extended to access the interior of the artery. Their long, angled design allows for greater reach and precision in tight surgical fields, which is crucial when working with delicate vascular tissue. Potts Smith scissors feature a tapered blade that makes them well-suited for controlled dissections in arteries, ensuring minimal trauma to surrounding tissues. This is important in vascular surgery, where preserving blood flow and protecting the vessel integrity is key. Other instruments, while useful in different circumstances, do not provide the same advantages. For example, Metzenbaum scissors are more appropriate for cutting delicate tissue rather than extensions of an arteriotomy. Scissors clamps do not exist generally in surgical terminology and would not be appropriate for this function. Curved scissors are versatile but lack the specific design and functionality needed for the task described in the question. Therefore, Potts Smith scissors are the optimal choice for extending an arteriotomy.