First assisting

What a surgical first assistant does

Exposure, hemostasis, closing, and how assisting differs from scrubbing.

1 min read

In this guide

Core responsibilities
How it differs from scrubbing
A case from the assist side

This guide is being written. The outline below shows what it will cover.

Core responsibilities

Coming soon.

How it differs from scrubbing

Coming soon.

A case from the assist side

Coming soon.

AJ Vazquez, CST, CSFA

Surgical technologist and first assistant with about eight years in the OR, from Level I trauma to travel contracts. He wrote Unseen Heroes of the OR so people could see the work that happens past the red line.

The story behind the site

Unseen Heroes of the OR is my memoir of life as a surgical technologist at a Level I trauma center: the emergencies, the routine cases, and what the work takes out of you. It’s why this site exists.

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A website for CSTs, from a CST.

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Core responsibilities

How it differs from scrubbing

A case from the assist side

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The story behind the site

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