Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) 11th Edition Test
Bank
200 Practice Questions with Answers & Detailed
Rationales | ACSAligned Complete A+ Guide
Question 1: What is the correct sequence of the ATLS 11th Edition primary survey?
A) ABCDE
B) CABDE
C) xABCDE
D) BACDE
Answer: C) xABCDE
Rationale: The 11th Edition introduces "x" for exsanguinating hemorrhage BEFORE the traditional
ABCDE. The sequence is now xABCDE: control of external exsanguinating hemorrhage, Airway with
cervical spine protection, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure.
Question 2: What does the "x" in the ATLS 11th Edition xABCDE sequence represent?
A) Xray imaging
B) eXsanguinating hemorrhage control
C) eXtremity examination
D) eXposure
Answer: B) eXsanguinating hemorrhage control
,Rationale: "x" stands for exsanguinating hemorrhage control. The 11th Edition prioritizes control of
lifethreatening external hemorrhage before airway management.
Question 3: A patient arrives with a gunshot wound to the thigh and an arterial fountain of blood. Your
FIRST action should be:
A) Jaw thrust maneuver
B) Apply a tourniquet 3 inches proximal to the wound
C) Intubate the patient
D) Administer 1 liter of Lactated Ringer's
Answer: B) Apply a tourniquet 3 inches proximal to the wound
Rationale: In the xABCDE algorithm, bleeding control takes priority over airway and breathing for
patients with exsanguinating external hemorrhage. A tourniquet should be applied immediately.
Question 4: The "A" in ABCDE stands for:
A) Assessment
B) Airway maintenance with Cervical SPINE protection
C) Airway and breathing
D) Alertness
Answer: B) Airway maintenance with Cervical SPINE protection
Rationale: The "A" represents Airway maintenance while simultaneously protecting the cervical spine.
All trauma patients should be assumed to have a cervical spine injury until proven otherwise.
,Question 5: What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious trauma patient?
A) Foreign body aspiration
B) Tongue falling back against the posterior pharynx
C) Laryngeal fracture
D) Maxillofacial trauma
Answer: B) Tongue falling back against the posterior pharynx
Rationale: Loss of skeletal muscle tone in an unconscious patient allows the tongue to fall back,
obstructing the airway.
Question 6: Which of the following defines a "definitive airway" in ATLS?
A) A supraglottic airway device
B) A cuffed tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated and connected to oxygen
C) A nasopharyngeal airway
D) A face mask with a reservoir bag
Answer: B) A cuffed tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated and connected to oxygen
Rationale: A definitive airway secures the trachea, prevents aspiration, and allows for mechanical
ventilation.
Question 7: What is the initial maneuver to open the airway in a trauma patient with a suspected
cervical spine injury?
, A) Head tiltchin lift
B) Jaw thrust
C) Neck extension
D) Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
Answer: B) Jaw thrust
Rationale: The jaw thrust opens the airway while minimizing movement of the cervical spine.
Question 8: Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to nasotracheal intubation?
A) Suspected cervical spine injury
B) Midface or basilar skull fractures
C) Trismus
D) Obesity
Answer: B) Midface or basilar skull fractures
Rationale: Nasotracheal intubation risks intracranial placement of the tube if the cribriform plate is
fractured.
Question 9: A patient with a GCS of 8 requires airway management. The preferred method of intubation
is:
A) Awake nasotracheal intubation
B) Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) with inline cervical stabilization
C) Cricothyroidotomy
Bank
200 Practice Questions with Answers & Detailed
Rationales | ACSAligned Complete A+ Guide
Question 1: What is the correct sequence of the ATLS 11th Edition primary survey?
A) ABCDE
B) CABDE
C) xABCDE
D) BACDE
Answer: C) xABCDE
Rationale: The 11th Edition introduces "x" for exsanguinating hemorrhage BEFORE the traditional
ABCDE. The sequence is now xABCDE: control of external exsanguinating hemorrhage, Airway with
cervical spine protection, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure.
Question 2: What does the "x" in the ATLS 11th Edition xABCDE sequence represent?
A) Xray imaging
B) eXsanguinating hemorrhage control
C) eXtremity examination
D) eXposure
Answer: B) eXsanguinating hemorrhage control
,Rationale: "x" stands for exsanguinating hemorrhage control. The 11th Edition prioritizes control of
lifethreatening external hemorrhage before airway management.
Question 3: A patient arrives with a gunshot wound to the thigh and an arterial fountain of blood. Your
FIRST action should be:
A) Jaw thrust maneuver
B) Apply a tourniquet 3 inches proximal to the wound
C) Intubate the patient
D) Administer 1 liter of Lactated Ringer's
Answer: B) Apply a tourniquet 3 inches proximal to the wound
Rationale: In the xABCDE algorithm, bleeding control takes priority over airway and breathing for
patients with exsanguinating external hemorrhage. A tourniquet should be applied immediately.
Question 4: The "A" in ABCDE stands for:
A) Assessment
B) Airway maintenance with Cervical SPINE protection
C) Airway and breathing
D) Alertness
Answer: B) Airway maintenance with Cervical SPINE protection
Rationale: The "A" represents Airway maintenance while simultaneously protecting the cervical spine.
All trauma patients should be assumed to have a cervical spine injury until proven otherwise.
,Question 5: What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an unconscious trauma patient?
A) Foreign body aspiration
B) Tongue falling back against the posterior pharynx
C) Laryngeal fracture
D) Maxillofacial trauma
Answer: B) Tongue falling back against the posterior pharynx
Rationale: Loss of skeletal muscle tone in an unconscious patient allows the tongue to fall back,
obstructing the airway.
Question 6: Which of the following defines a "definitive airway" in ATLS?
A) A supraglottic airway device
B) A cuffed tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated and connected to oxygen
C) A nasopharyngeal airway
D) A face mask with a reservoir bag
Answer: B) A cuffed tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated and connected to oxygen
Rationale: A definitive airway secures the trachea, prevents aspiration, and allows for mechanical
ventilation.
Question 7: What is the initial maneuver to open the airway in a trauma patient with a suspected
cervical spine injury?
, A) Head tiltchin lift
B) Jaw thrust
C) Neck extension
D) Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
Answer: B) Jaw thrust
Rationale: The jaw thrust opens the airway while minimizing movement of the cervical spine.
Question 8: Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to nasotracheal intubation?
A) Suspected cervical spine injury
B) Midface or basilar skull fractures
C) Trismus
D) Obesity
Answer: B) Midface or basilar skull fractures
Rationale: Nasotracheal intubation risks intracranial placement of the tube if the cribriform plate is
fractured.
Question 9: A patient with a GCS of 8 requires airway management. The preferred method of intubation
is:
A) Awake nasotracheal intubation
B) Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) with inline cervical stabilization
C) Cricothyroidotomy
