ADVANCED BURN LIFE SUPPORT (ABLS)
EXAMINATION ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST
RELEASED
The Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) examination
evaluates healthcare professionals on the emergency
assessment, stabilization, transfer, and early management
of burn patients. The exam is commonly associated with
burn resuscitation principles, airway management, trauma
coordination, inhalation injury recognition, fluid
replacement, pediatric and adult burn care,
chemical/electrical burns, and disaster triage. Questions
are typically scenario-based and emphasize rapid clinical
judgment, prioritization, and patient safety.
Exam Coverage
Initial burn assessment and stabilization
Airway and inhalation injury management
Burn shock and fluid resuscitation
Burn center transfer criteria
, Pediatric burn emergencies
Electrical and chemical burns
Escharotomy indications
Wound assessment and burn depth classification
Pain control and infection prevention
Nutritional and metabolic considerations
Trauma and multisystem injury management
Disaster triage and mass casualty burn incidents
Ventilation and oxygenation strategies
Complications of burn injuries
Rehabilitation and psychosocial care
1.
A warehouse explosion victim presents with facial burns,
singed nasal hairs, hoarseness, and progressive stridor
during transport to the emergency department. Which
intervention should occur immediately?
A. Begin oral corticosteroids for airway swelling
B. Delay intervention until oxygen saturation decreases
C. Perform early endotracheal intubation before edema
worsens
,D. Administer prophylactic antibiotics before airway
evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Facial burns with hoarseness and stridor
strongly suggest inhalation injury and impending airway
obstruction requiring early airway protection.
2.
An adult patient weighing 80 kilograms sustains 40% total
body surface area burns. Which fluid resuscitation
calculation is most appropriate during the first 24 hours?
A. 2 mL × weight × TBSA
B. 4 mL × weight × TBSA using lactated Ringer solution
C. 1 mL × weight × TBSA using normal saline
D. 10 mL × weight × TBSA using dextrose solution
Answer: B
Rationale: The Parkland formula uses 4 mL lactated
Ringer solution multiplied by body weight and burn
percentage.
3.
, A patient develops circumferential full-thickness burns
around the chest with worsening respiratory effort despite
oxygen therapy. What complication is most concerning?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Restrictive chest wall compression impairing
ventilation
C. Acute renal failure
D. Septic shock from wound contamination
Answer: B
Rationale: Circumferential thoracic burns can restrict
chest expansion and impair ventilation, potentially
requiring escharotomy.
4.
A child arrives after pulling hot soup onto the torso and
upper extremities. Which finding suggests nonaccidental
trauma rather than accidental scald injury?
A. Splash marks with irregular borders
B. Burns involving exposed upper body surfaces
C. Symmetrical immersion burns with sharp demarcation
lines
D. Presence of blister formation on the chest
EXAMINATION ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR JUST
RELEASED
The Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) examination
evaluates healthcare professionals on the emergency
assessment, stabilization, transfer, and early management
of burn patients. The exam is commonly associated with
burn resuscitation principles, airway management, trauma
coordination, inhalation injury recognition, fluid
replacement, pediatric and adult burn care,
chemical/electrical burns, and disaster triage. Questions
are typically scenario-based and emphasize rapid clinical
judgment, prioritization, and patient safety.
Exam Coverage
Initial burn assessment and stabilization
Airway and inhalation injury management
Burn shock and fluid resuscitation
Burn center transfer criteria
, Pediatric burn emergencies
Electrical and chemical burns
Escharotomy indications
Wound assessment and burn depth classification
Pain control and infection prevention
Nutritional and metabolic considerations
Trauma and multisystem injury management
Disaster triage and mass casualty burn incidents
Ventilation and oxygenation strategies
Complications of burn injuries
Rehabilitation and psychosocial care
1.
A warehouse explosion victim presents with facial burns,
singed nasal hairs, hoarseness, and progressive stridor
during transport to the emergency department. Which
intervention should occur immediately?
A. Begin oral corticosteroids for airway swelling
B. Delay intervention until oxygen saturation decreases
C. Perform early endotracheal intubation before edema
worsens
,D. Administer prophylactic antibiotics before airway
evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: Facial burns with hoarseness and stridor
strongly suggest inhalation injury and impending airway
obstruction requiring early airway protection.
2.
An adult patient weighing 80 kilograms sustains 40% total
body surface area burns. Which fluid resuscitation
calculation is most appropriate during the first 24 hours?
A. 2 mL × weight × TBSA
B. 4 mL × weight × TBSA using lactated Ringer solution
C. 1 mL × weight × TBSA using normal saline
D. 10 mL × weight × TBSA using dextrose solution
Answer: B
Rationale: The Parkland formula uses 4 mL lactated
Ringer solution multiplied by body weight and burn
percentage.
3.
, A patient develops circumferential full-thickness burns
around the chest with worsening respiratory effort despite
oxygen therapy. What complication is most concerning?
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Restrictive chest wall compression impairing
ventilation
C. Acute renal failure
D. Septic shock from wound contamination
Answer: B
Rationale: Circumferential thoracic burns can restrict
chest expansion and impair ventilation, potentially
requiring escharotomy.
4.
A child arrives after pulling hot soup onto the torso and
upper extremities. Which finding suggests nonaccidental
trauma rather than accidental scald injury?
A. Splash marks with irregular borders
B. Burns involving exposed upper body surfaces
C. Symmetrical immersion burns with sharp demarcation
lines
D. Presence of blister formation on the chest
