1|Page
ATLS Practice Questions & Trauma Exam Prep | High-
Yield Advanced Trauma Life Support Review
Bank||Newest Exam!!!
A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6
feet fall onto concrete. She is unresponsive and found to
have a RR of 32, BP of 90/60, and HR of 68. The FIRST
step in treatment is:
A. Administering vasopressors
B. Establishing IV access for drug-assisted intubation
C. Seeking the cause of her decreased level of
consciousness
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
E. Excluding hemorrhage as a cause of shock - Answers-
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
First = ABCs
Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of
the following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
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D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure - Answers-E. Decreased
pulse pressure
A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital after
falling 20 feet from a ladder and landing straddled on a
fence. Examination of his perineum reveals extensive
ecchymosis. There is blood in the external urethral
meatus. The initial diagnostic study for the evaluation of
the urinary tract should be:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystography
C. intravenous pyelography
D. CT scan
E. retrograde urethrography - Answers-E. retrograde
urethrography
-> any ecchymosis, needs to be done before catheter!
A 30 year old male presents after a MVC. Vitals are RR
18, HR 88, BP 130/72, GCS 13. Laparatomy is indicated
when:
A. There is a distinct seat belt sign over the abdomen
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B. The CT demonstrates a grade 4 hepatic injury
C. There is evidence of extraperitoneal bladder injury
D. CT demonstrates retroperitoneal air
E. The abdomen is distended with localized rihgt upper
quadrant tenderness - Answers-D. CT demonstrates
retroperitoneal air
-> air, peritonitis (tenderness, rigidity), unstable vital signs
A 20 year old male is brought to the hospital approximately
30 minutes after being stabbed in the chest. There is 3 cm
wound just medial to the left nipple. BP is 70/33 and HR is
140. Neck and arm veins are distended. Breath sounds
are normal. Heart sounds are diminished, IV access is
established and warm crystalloid is infusing. The next
most important aspect of immediate management is:
A. CT Chest
B. EKG
C. Left tube thoracostomy
D. RBC infusion
E. FAST exam - Answers-E. FAST exam
Tamponade: muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension
-> FAST cardiac exam
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Will require pericardiocentesis
Neurogenic shock has all of the following characteristics
except which one?
A. hypotension
B. vasodilation
C. bradycardia
D. neurologic deficit
E. narrowed pulse pressure - Answers-E. narrowed pulse
pressure
always the answer :)
A 30 year old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right
lower chest, midway between the nipple and the costal
margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hospital with full
surgical capabilities. In the ED, he is endotracheally
intubated, 2 L of crystalloid is infused rapidly, and a closed
tube thoracostomy is performed with the return of 200 mL
of blood. A CXR reveals correct placement of the chest
tube and a small residual hemothorax. His BP is now
70/50 and HR 140. The most appropriate next step is:
A. Insert a second chest tube
B. Obtain CT Abd
ATLS Practice Questions & Trauma Exam Prep | High-
Yield Advanced Trauma Life Support Review
Bank||Newest Exam!!!
A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6
feet fall onto concrete. She is unresponsive and found to
have a RR of 32, BP of 90/60, and HR of 68. The FIRST
step in treatment is:
A. Administering vasopressors
B. Establishing IV access for drug-assisted intubation
C. Seeking the cause of her decreased level of
consciousness
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
E. Excluding hemorrhage as a cause of shock - Answers-
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
First = ABCs
Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of
the following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
,2|Page
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure - Answers-E. Decreased
pulse pressure
A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital after
falling 20 feet from a ladder and landing straddled on a
fence. Examination of his perineum reveals extensive
ecchymosis. There is blood in the external urethral
meatus. The initial diagnostic study for the evaluation of
the urinary tract should be:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystography
C. intravenous pyelography
D. CT scan
E. retrograde urethrography - Answers-E. retrograde
urethrography
-> any ecchymosis, needs to be done before catheter!
A 30 year old male presents after a MVC. Vitals are RR
18, HR 88, BP 130/72, GCS 13. Laparatomy is indicated
when:
A. There is a distinct seat belt sign over the abdomen
,3|Page
B. The CT demonstrates a grade 4 hepatic injury
C. There is evidence of extraperitoneal bladder injury
D. CT demonstrates retroperitoneal air
E. The abdomen is distended with localized rihgt upper
quadrant tenderness - Answers-D. CT demonstrates
retroperitoneal air
-> air, peritonitis (tenderness, rigidity), unstable vital signs
A 20 year old male is brought to the hospital approximately
30 minutes after being stabbed in the chest. There is 3 cm
wound just medial to the left nipple. BP is 70/33 and HR is
140. Neck and arm veins are distended. Breath sounds
are normal. Heart sounds are diminished, IV access is
established and warm crystalloid is infusing. The next
most important aspect of immediate management is:
A. CT Chest
B. EKG
C. Left tube thoracostomy
D. RBC infusion
E. FAST exam - Answers-E. FAST exam
Tamponade: muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension
-> FAST cardiac exam
, 4|Page
Will require pericardiocentesis
Neurogenic shock has all of the following characteristics
except which one?
A. hypotension
B. vasodilation
C. bradycardia
D. neurologic deficit
E. narrowed pulse pressure - Answers-E. narrowed pulse
pressure
always the answer :)
A 30 year old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right
lower chest, midway between the nipple and the costal
margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hospital with full
surgical capabilities. In the ED, he is endotracheally
intubated, 2 L of crystalloid is infused rapidly, and a closed
tube thoracostomy is performed with the return of 200 mL
of blood. A CXR reveals correct placement of the chest
tube and a small residual hemothorax. His BP is now
70/50 and HR 140. The most appropriate next step is:
A. Insert a second chest tube
B. Obtain CT Abd
