1|Page
ATLS Test Exam Study Guide | Advanced Trauma Life
Support Practice Questions & Verified Answer
Review||Newest Exam!!!
A 23-year-old man sustains 4 stab wounds to the upper
right chest during an altercation and is brought by
ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical capabilities.
His wounds are all above the nipple. He is endotracheally
intubated, closed tube thoracostomy is performed, fluid
resuscitation is initiated through 2 large-caliber IVs. FAST
exam does not reveal intraabdominal injuries. His blood
pressure now is 60/0 mm Hg, heart rate is 160 beats per
minute, and respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute
(ventilated with 100% O2). 1500 mL of blood has drained
from the right chest. The most appropriate next step in
managing this patient is to: - Answers-urgently transfer the
patient to the operating room
A 39-year-old man is admitted to the emergency
department after an automobile collision. He is cyanotic,
has insufficient respiratory effort, and has a GCS score of
6. His full beard makes it difficult to fit the oxygen
facemask to his face. The most appropriate next step is to:
- Answers-restrict cervical motion and attempt orotracheal
intubation using 2 people
,2|Page
A patient is brought to the emergency department after a
motor vehicle crash. He is conscious and there is no
obvious external trauma. He arrives at the hospital
completely immobilized on a long spine board. His blood
pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his heart rate is 70 beats
per minute. His skin is warm. Which one of the following
statements is TRUE? - Answers-Flaccidity of the lower
extremities and loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
Which one of the following is the most effective method for
initially treating frostbite? - Answers-moist heat
A 32-year-old man's right leg is trapped beneath his
overturned car for nearly 2 hours before he is extricated.
On arrival in the emergency department, his right lower
extremity is cool, mottled, insensate, and motionless.
Despite normal vital signs, pulses cannot be palpated
below the right femoral artery and the muscles of the lower
extremity are firm and hard. During the management of
this patient, which of the following is most likely to improve
the chances for limb salvage? - Answers-surgical
consultation for right lower extremity fasciotomy
,3|Page
A patient arrives in the emergency department after being
beaten about the head and face with a wooden club. He is
comatose and has a palpable depressed skull fracture. His
face is swollen and ecchymotic. He has gurgling
respirations and vomitus on his face and clothing. The
most appropriate step after providing supplemental
oxygen and elevating his jaw is to: - Answers-suction the
oropharynx
A 22-year-old man sustains a gunshot wound to the left
chest and is transported to a small community hospital no
surgical capabilities are available. In the emergency
department, a chest tube is inserted and 700 mL of blood
is evacuated. The trauma center accepts the patient in
transfer. Just before the patient is placed in the ambulance
for transfer, his blood pressure decreases to 80/68 mm Hg
and his heart rate increases to 136 beats per minute. The
next step should be to: - Answers-repeat the primary
survey and proceed with transfer
A 64-year-old man involved in a high-speed car crash, is
resuscitated initially in a small hospital without surgical
capabilities. He has a closed head injury with a GCS score
of 13. He has a widened mediastinum on chest x-ray with
fractures of left ribs 2 through 4, but no pneumothorax.
, 4|Page
After initiating fluid resuscitation, his blood pressure is
110/74 mm Hg, heart rate is 100 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute. He has gross
hematuria and a pelvic fracture. You decide to transfer this
patient to a facility capable of providing a higher level of
care. The facility is 128 km (80 miles) away. Before
transfer, you should first: - Answers-call the receiving
hospital and speak to the surgeon on call
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a
shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His blood pressure is
initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial fluid resuscitation his
blood pressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate
is now 100 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 28
breaths per minute. A tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a
small amount of blood and no air leak. After chest tube
insertion, the most appropriate next step is: - Answers-re-
examine the chest
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and
sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency
department, he is alert, vital signs are normal, and he is
complaining of severe pain in both heels and his lower
back. Lower extremity pulses are strong and there is no
other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to
be confirmed by: - Answers-complete spine x-ray series
ATLS Test Exam Study Guide | Advanced Trauma Life
Support Practice Questions & Verified Answer
Review||Newest Exam!!!
A 23-year-old man sustains 4 stab wounds to the upper
right chest during an altercation and is brought by
ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical capabilities.
His wounds are all above the nipple. He is endotracheally
intubated, closed tube thoracostomy is performed, fluid
resuscitation is initiated through 2 large-caliber IVs. FAST
exam does not reveal intraabdominal injuries. His blood
pressure now is 60/0 mm Hg, heart rate is 160 beats per
minute, and respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute
(ventilated with 100% O2). 1500 mL of blood has drained
from the right chest. The most appropriate next step in
managing this patient is to: - Answers-urgently transfer the
patient to the operating room
A 39-year-old man is admitted to the emergency
department after an automobile collision. He is cyanotic,
has insufficient respiratory effort, and has a GCS score of
6. His full beard makes it difficult to fit the oxygen
facemask to his face. The most appropriate next step is to:
- Answers-restrict cervical motion and attempt orotracheal
intubation using 2 people
,2|Page
A patient is brought to the emergency department after a
motor vehicle crash. He is conscious and there is no
obvious external trauma. He arrives at the hospital
completely immobilized on a long spine board. His blood
pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his heart rate is 70 beats
per minute. His skin is warm. Which one of the following
statements is TRUE? - Answers-Flaccidity of the lower
extremities and loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
Which one of the following is the most effective method for
initially treating frostbite? - Answers-moist heat
A 32-year-old man's right leg is trapped beneath his
overturned car for nearly 2 hours before he is extricated.
On arrival in the emergency department, his right lower
extremity is cool, mottled, insensate, and motionless.
Despite normal vital signs, pulses cannot be palpated
below the right femoral artery and the muscles of the lower
extremity are firm and hard. During the management of
this patient, which of the following is most likely to improve
the chances for limb salvage? - Answers-surgical
consultation for right lower extremity fasciotomy
,3|Page
A patient arrives in the emergency department after being
beaten about the head and face with a wooden club. He is
comatose and has a palpable depressed skull fracture. His
face is swollen and ecchymotic. He has gurgling
respirations and vomitus on his face and clothing. The
most appropriate step after providing supplemental
oxygen and elevating his jaw is to: - Answers-suction the
oropharynx
A 22-year-old man sustains a gunshot wound to the left
chest and is transported to a small community hospital no
surgical capabilities are available. In the emergency
department, a chest tube is inserted and 700 mL of blood
is evacuated. The trauma center accepts the patient in
transfer. Just before the patient is placed in the ambulance
for transfer, his blood pressure decreases to 80/68 mm Hg
and his heart rate increases to 136 beats per minute. The
next step should be to: - Answers-repeat the primary
survey and proceed with transfer
A 64-year-old man involved in a high-speed car crash, is
resuscitated initially in a small hospital without surgical
capabilities. He has a closed head injury with a GCS score
of 13. He has a widened mediastinum on chest x-ray with
fractures of left ribs 2 through 4, but no pneumothorax.
, 4|Page
After initiating fluid resuscitation, his blood pressure is
110/74 mm Hg, heart rate is 100 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute. He has gross
hematuria and a pelvic fracture. You decide to transfer this
patient to a facility capable of providing a higher level of
care. The facility is 128 km (80 miles) away. Before
transfer, you should first: - Answers-call the receiving
hospital and speak to the surgeon on call
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a
shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His blood pressure is
initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial fluid resuscitation his
blood pressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate
is now 100 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 28
breaths per minute. A tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a
small amount of blood and no air leak. After chest tube
insertion, the most appropriate next step is: - Answers-re-
examine the chest
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and
sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency
department, he is alert, vital signs are normal, and he is
complaining of severe pain in both heels and his lower
back. Lower extremity pulses are strong and there is no
other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to
be confirmed by: - Answers-complete spine x-ray series
