PSI NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CST Practice Questions and Study Guide

The pneumatic tourniquet is used in surgical procedures to occlude blood flow to a specific area, but for a Bier block, the key item that the surgical technologist provides is the Esmarch bandage. The Esmarch bandage is a long elastic bandage that is wrapped around the limb to compress and displace blood, facilitating the administration of a Bier block—a type of regional anesthesia used for procedures on the extremities.

When applied correctly, the Esmarch bandage helps to reduce vascularity and manage bleeding during the surgery, allowing for a clearer surgical field and effective anesthesia. It acts by mechanically pushing blood out of the limb and creating a bloodless surgical area prior to the application of the Bier block, which is essential for the effectiveness of the anesthesia.

The other options, while useful in various contexts, do not provide the same function as the Esmarch bandage in this particular scenario. The pneumatic tourniquet, for example, is a more advanced device used for similar purposes but is not typically given to the anesthesia provider specifically for displacing blood prior to a Bier block. Stockinettes and Coban are more related to patient draping or securing dressings and do not serve the same purpose during the anesthetic preparation.