ATCN COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
TEST COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
●● Signs and sx of cardiac tamponade
Answer: 1. Becks Triad= increased venous pressure(distended neck
veins), decreased arterial pressure(hypotension), muffled heart tones
2. PEA
3. JVD &/or Kussmauls sign
4. Use FAST to dx
●● tension pneumothorax can often be confused with cardiac
tamponade, how do you differentiate?
Answer: Careful assessment of the pt's breath sounds is paramount to
differentiate the two
●● Tx of tension pneumothorax
Answer: 1. Needle decompression- large bore needle 2nd intercostal
space midclavicular line 2. chest tube 4 or 5th intercostal space mid
axillary
●● triad of death
Answer: -Acidosis
,- Hypothermia
- Coagulopathy (blood can't clot resulting in continued bleeding)
●● rule of 9's adult
Answer: Head = 9%
Chest (front) = 9%
Abdomen (front) = 9%
Upper/mid/low back and buttocks = 18%
Each arm = 9% (front = 4.5%, back = 4.5%)
Groin = 1%
Each leg = 18% total (front = 9%, back = 9%)
●● Rule of 9's - Pediatric
Answer: Anterior/Posterior Head - 9% Each
Anterior/Posterior Torson - 18% Each
Anterior/Posterior Arms - 4.5% Each
Anterior/Posterior Legs - 7% Each
●● signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome
Answer: Early signs and sx
1. increased pain, greater than expected and out of proportion to the
injury
, 2. Palpable tenseness of the compartment
3. asymmetry of the muscle compartment
4. pain on passive stretch
5.altered sensation
Note: Absent distal pulses and poor cap refill are not reliable in dx
compartment syndrome. May be a very late sign of C.S. possibility of
proximal vascular injury should be considered
●● Indications for thoracotomy
Answer: thoracotomy is indicated when output exceeds 1500 mL within
24 hours, THE INDICATIONS for thoracotomy after traumatic injury
typically include shock, arrest at presentation, diagnosis of specific
injuries (such as blunt aortic injury), or ongoing thoracic hemorrhage.
●● blunt cardiac injury s and sx
Answer: sx can be slow and gradual and silent. hypotension,
tachycardia, arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, visible trauma, distended
neck veins, muffled heart sounds, and other signs of shock.
Note: rapid deceleration
●● Acid base balance, base deficit and shock
Answer: 1.Metabolic acidosis is corrected by control of hemorrhage and
admin of fluids and blood
TEST COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
●● Signs and sx of cardiac tamponade
Answer: 1. Becks Triad= increased venous pressure(distended neck
veins), decreased arterial pressure(hypotension), muffled heart tones
2. PEA
3. JVD &/or Kussmauls sign
4. Use FAST to dx
●● tension pneumothorax can often be confused with cardiac
tamponade, how do you differentiate?
Answer: Careful assessment of the pt's breath sounds is paramount to
differentiate the two
●● Tx of tension pneumothorax
Answer: 1. Needle decompression- large bore needle 2nd intercostal
space midclavicular line 2. chest tube 4 or 5th intercostal space mid
axillary
●● triad of death
Answer: -Acidosis
,- Hypothermia
- Coagulopathy (blood can't clot resulting in continued bleeding)
●● rule of 9's adult
Answer: Head = 9%
Chest (front) = 9%
Abdomen (front) = 9%
Upper/mid/low back and buttocks = 18%
Each arm = 9% (front = 4.5%, back = 4.5%)
Groin = 1%
Each leg = 18% total (front = 9%, back = 9%)
●● Rule of 9's - Pediatric
Answer: Anterior/Posterior Head - 9% Each
Anterior/Posterior Torson - 18% Each
Anterior/Posterior Arms - 4.5% Each
Anterior/Posterior Legs - 7% Each
●● signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome
Answer: Early signs and sx
1. increased pain, greater than expected and out of proportion to the
injury
, 2. Palpable tenseness of the compartment
3. asymmetry of the muscle compartment
4. pain on passive stretch
5.altered sensation
Note: Absent distal pulses and poor cap refill are not reliable in dx
compartment syndrome. May be a very late sign of C.S. possibility of
proximal vascular injury should be considered
●● Indications for thoracotomy
Answer: thoracotomy is indicated when output exceeds 1500 mL within
24 hours, THE INDICATIONS for thoracotomy after traumatic injury
typically include shock, arrest at presentation, diagnosis of specific
injuries (such as blunt aortic injury), or ongoing thoracic hemorrhage.
●● blunt cardiac injury s and sx
Answer: sx can be slow and gradual and silent. hypotension,
tachycardia, arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, visible trauma, distended
neck veins, muffled heart sounds, and other signs of shock.
Note: rapid deceleration
●● Acid base balance, base deficit and shock
Answer: 1.Metabolic acidosis is corrected by control of hemorrhage and
admin of fluids and blood
