Surgical Tech Practice Exam

Which item is typically used during surgery to control bleeding?

1. Surgical drape

2. Surgical clip

3. Surgical gauze

4. Surgical swab

The correct answer is: Surgical clip

The item that is typically used during surgery to control bleeding is a surgical clip. Surgical clips are small metal devices that are often used for occluding blood vessels during surgery to prevent blood loss. By securely grasping a blood vessel, surgical clips effectively minimize the risk of bleeding, which is crucial in maintaining patient stability during an operative procedure. Surgical drapes, while important for creating a sterile field and protecting the surrounding area from contamination, do not have a direct function in controlling bleeding. Surgical gauze can be utilized to absorb blood and maintain a clean surgical site but does not directly stop bleeding like clips do. Surgical swabs also serve a similar purpose in absorbing fluids and debris; however, they are more passive in managing blood loss compared to surgical clips, which actively occlude vessels. Thus, surgical clips are specifically designed for the control of bleeding, making them the appropriate choice in this context.