Which of the following is a troubleshooting step for troubleshooting the image display during laparoscopy?

• A. Check that the monitor is plugged in and turned on and all cables are connected securely
• B. Check that the CO2 tank is full
• C. Check that the light source bulb is functioning
• D. Check that port valves are open

Answer: (C)

Illumination is essential for image display because the camera relies on light from the source to reveal the surgical field. If the light source bulb isn’t functioning, there won’t be illumination, so the image will be dark or absent regardless of what else is connected. Checking that the light source is on and the bulb is working directly tests the cause of a non-visible image and is the most straightforward way to troubleshoot image display problems. Other steps, like making sure the monitor is powered and cables are securely connected, can matter in some failure modes, but they won’t restore an image if there’s no light. The CO2 tank status or port valves don’t affect the video signal, so they aren’t the primary troubleshooting step for image display.