ATLS POST TEST CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
TEST 284 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100 PERCENT CORRECT
◉ Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of the
following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure. Answer: 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. Answer: 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
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. Answer: 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. Answer: E. FAST exam
,Tamponade: muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension -> FAST
cardiac exam
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. Answer: 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
C. Perform a thoracotomy in the ED
, D. Perform a laporotomy in the OR
E. Perform a FAST exam. Answer: E. Perform a FAST exam
-> needs more CHEST exploration not abdomen, so FAST of chest
◉ Which of the following is true regarding a PREGNANT patient who
presents following blunt trauma?
A. Early gastric decompression is important
B. A hemoglobin level of 10 indicates recent blood loss
C. The CVP response to volume resuscitation is blunted in pregnant
patients
D. A lap belt is the best form of restraint due to the size of the gravid
uterus
E. A PaCO2 of 40 provides reassurance about the adequancy of
respiratory function. Answer: A. Early gastric decompression is
important
◉ Which one of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh
isoimmunization in pregnant trauma patients?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. It is produced by minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage
C. Rh immunoglobulin therapy should be administered to pregnant
females who have sustained a gunshot wound to the leg
D. This is not a problem in traumatized, Rh-positive pregnant
patients
TEST 284 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100 PERCENT CORRECT
◉ Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of the
following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure. Answer: 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. Answer: 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
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. Answer: 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. Answer: E. FAST exam
,Tamponade: muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension -> FAST
cardiac exam
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. Answer: 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
C. Perform a thoracotomy in the ED
, D. Perform a laporotomy in the OR
E. Perform a FAST exam. Answer: E. Perform a FAST exam
-> needs more CHEST exploration not abdomen, so FAST of chest
◉ Which of the following is true regarding a PREGNANT patient who
presents following blunt trauma?
A. Early gastric decompression is important
B. A hemoglobin level of 10 indicates recent blood loss
C. The CVP response to volume resuscitation is blunted in pregnant
patients
D. A lap belt is the best form of restraint due to the size of the gravid
uterus
E. A PaCO2 of 40 provides reassurance about the adequancy of
respiratory function. Answer: A. Early gastric decompression is
important
◉ Which one of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh
isoimmunization in pregnant trauma patients?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. It is produced by minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage
C. Rh immunoglobulin therapy should be administered to pregnant
females who have sustained a gunshot wound to the leg
D. This is not a problem in traumatized, Rh-positive pregnant
patients
