Surgical Tech Practice Exam

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Prepare for your Surgical Tech Exam using comprehensive quizzes and practice questions tailored to enhance your knowledge and readiness. Each question comes with hints and detailed explanations, helping you confidently approach your test.

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Patients who undergo gastrointestinal procedures are at high risk for which condition?

Infection
Hypothermia
Hyperthermia
Tachycardia

The correct answer is: Hypothermia

Patients who undergo gastrointestinal procedures are particularly at high risk for infection due to several factors inherent to these types of surgeries. The gastrointestinal tract is home to a myriad of bacteria, and any surgical intervention can disrupt the normal barrier, leading to a higher chance of postoperative infections. This, combined with potential fluid loss and the inflammatory response triggered by surgery, increases susceptibility to infectious complications. While hypothermia can occur in surgical settings, particularly if proper warming measures aren’t in place, the primary concern for gastrointestinal surgeries is usually the risk of infection. It's important to monitor and manage body temperature during surgery to reduce this risk, but the overarching concern remains rooted in infection control.