CSCT case studies
CSCT · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Surgical Care Technician (CSCT) credential is a certification aimed at allied health staff who support operations before, during, and after surgery - surgical technologists' assistants, perioperative aides, central sterile processing staff moving into the OR, and technicians who handle setup, transport, and turnover duties. It signals that a candidate understands aseptic technique, instrument reprocessing, patient positioning and transfer, intraoperative support, counts and specimens, infection control, emergency readiness, and professional documentation. The CSCT case studies are 5 cases and about 2,938 words.
1Wet Field and Gown Strike-Through During Shoulder Arthroscopy
During a right shoulder arthroscopy in the beach-chair position, the surgical technologist notices that clear fluid collecting beneath the patient's axilla has saturated the seam of the impervious U-drape and is spreading toward the edge of the sterile field. The surgeon's gown sleeve is wet from the cuff to mid-forearm, and a resident has just leaned across the wet drape to reach the Mayo stand.
518 words, about 3 min2Positive Biological Indicator in a Load Containing Orthopedic Instrument Trays
A 132°C gravity-displacement steam sterilizer in a hospital central processing department has just completed 24-hour incubation of biological indicators for load 4471. The load contained two total knee arthroplasty instrument trays, one loaner spine tray, and four minor sets.
656 words, about 3 min3Prolonged Steep Trendelenburg Positioning During Robotic Prostatectomy
A 63-year-old man with a BMI of 36 and obstructive sleep apnea is undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy. After 4 hours in 30° steep Trendelenburg with 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum, the surgical technologist notices that the patient's shoulders are pressing against the padded shoulder supports, the arms are tucked at the sides with the hands pronated, and the IV tubing is taut.
636 words, about 3 min4Sponge Count Discrepancy at Emergency Cesarean Closure
A 31-year-old woman at 39 weeks' gestation is undergoing an emergency cesarean delivery under general anesthesia for a non-reassuring fetal heart tracing. She has a BMI of 42 and two prior cesareans; dense adhesions are encountered.
574 words, about 3 min5Suspected Malignant Hyperthermia During Tibia Fixation
A 24-year-old man is undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of a tibia fracture under general anesthesia with sevoflurane and succinylcholine. About 45 minutes into the case, end-tidal CO2 rises from 38 to 68 mmHg despite increased ventilation, heart rate goes from 82 to 138 beats/min, and temperature rises to 39.3°C.
554 words, about 3 min