Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) Practice Test

Which hemostatic agent is most commonly utilized during spinal fusion surgeries?

1. Collagen

2. Thrombin

3. Fibrin glue

4. Hemostatic sponge

The correct answer is: Thrombin

Thrombin is a critical hemostatic agent due to its role in the coagulation cascade, where it catalyzes the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin, thus promoting clot formation. During spinal fusion surgeries, achieving hemostasis is vital, as these procedures often involve extensive dissection and manipulation of tissues that can lead to significant bleeding. Thrombin's effectiveness in promoting rapid clotting makes it particularly valuable in the surgical setting, allowing surgeons to maintain a clear surgical field and reduce the risk of excessive blood loss. While other agents such as collagen, fibrin glue, and hemostatic sponges also play roles in managing bleeding, they may serve different functions or are used in conjunction with thrombin. Collagen can act as a scaffold for platelets and promotes hemostasis but may not be as directly impactful as thrombin in initiating clot formation. Fibrin glue is often used to seal tissues but may not be the primary agent during the actual surgical procedure for hemostasis. Hemostatic sponges help absorb blood and can assist in hemostasis, but they often do not interact with the coagulation process in the way that thrombin does. Thus, thrombin stands out as the most commonly utilized hemost