ATLS Post-Test Advanced Trauma Life Support
Comprehensive EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST UPDATED
VERSION 180 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS JUST RELEASED
You are treating a truama patient and attempt a definitive airway by intubation. However, the
vocal cords are not visible. What tool would be the most valuable for achieving successful
intubation?
A. Gum elastic bougie
B. Lateral cervical spine x-ray
C. Nasopharyngeal airway
D. Oxygen
E. Laryngeal mask airway - answer>>A. Gum elastic bougie
The least likely cause of a depressed level of consiousness in the multisystem injured patient is:
A. shock
B. Head injury
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Impaired oxygenation
E. Alcohol and other drugs - answer>>C. Hyperglycemia
Which one of the following statements concerning massive hemothorax is true?
A. It is usually caused by blunt thoracic trauma
B. It is commonly confused with pneumothorax
C. The diagnosis should be confirmed by upright, plain chest x-ray prior to treatment
D. The initial draining of 1000ml of blood after chest tube insertion requires immediate
thoracotomy
E. The condition should be suspected in situations with shock and unilateral absent breath
sounds - answer>>E. The condition should be suspected in situations with shock and unilateral
absent breath sounds
,During primary and secondary survey, the patient injured by blunt trauma should be completely
immobilized until
A. The neurologic exam has been completed
B. The patient is transferred to definitive care
C. The patient is able to indicate that he has no neck pain
D. A spinal fracture has been excluded by x-ray
E. The patient complains of potential pressure sores due to the spine board. - answer>>D. A
spinal fracture has been excluded by x-ray
Cervical spine injury
A. Is excluded by a normal neurologic exam
B. Is not present if the patient has normal range of motion
C. Can be detected safely by careful flexion and extension of the neck
D. Can be excluded by a crosstable lateral x-ray of the c-spine
E. May be first manifested by neurologic deficit after movement of the neck - answer>>E. May
be first manifested by neurologic deficit after movement of the neck
An 18 y/o man is brought to the ED after smashing his motorcycle into a tree. He is conscious
and alert, but paralyzed in both legs and arms. His skin is pale and cold. He complains of thirst
and difficulty in breathing. His airway is clear. His BP is 60/40 and his pulse is 140 bpm. Breath
sounds are full and equal bilaterally. He should
A. Undergo exploratory celiotomy
B. Be treated for neurogenic shock
C. Be treated for hypovolemic shock
D. Undergo immediate nasotracheal intubation
E. be placed in cervical traction tongs before any other treatment is instituted - answer>>C. Be
treated for hypovolemic shock
The principle of balanced resuscitation is:
A) Permissive hypotension and early plasma infusion
B) Equal amounts of crystalloid and colloids
,C) Simultaneous management of breathing and circulation
D) Maintenance of a normal acid base balance
E) Achieving a pulse rate <90 - answer>>A) Permissive hypotension and early plasma infusion
Healthy young male in a motor vehicle crash is brought to the emergency department with a
blood pressure of 84/60, pulse 123, GCS 10. The patient moans when his pelvis is palpated.
After initiating fluid resuscitation, the next step in management is:
A) Placement of a pelvic binder
B) Transfer to a trauma center
C) Pelvic x-ray
D) Insert urinary catheter
E) Repeat examination of pelvis - answer>>A) Placement of a pelvic binder
22 year old male fall from 2m, large right pneumothorax. Chest tube placed, connected to
drainage. Control x-ray shows pneumothorax, third x-ray reveals pneumothorax -
answer>>Tracheobronchal injury
Which one of the following is not a feature of neurogenic shock?
A. Increased venous capaitance
B. Decreased systemic vascular resistance
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Warm skin - answer>>C. Increased cardiac output
Tension pneumothorax can be caused by:
A. Flail chest
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Clamping of a chest tube
D. All of the above - answer>>D. All of the above
Which one of the following brain stem reflexes is not assessed when assessing for brain death?
, A. Dolls eyes
B. Oculovestibular reflex
C. Gag reflex
D. Argyll Robertson pupil - answer>>D. Argyll Robertson pupil
What is the simplest way to open the airway in an unconscious patient?
A. Pull out the tongue
B. Tilt head and lift chin
C. Lift neck from behind
D. Jaw thrust - answer>>B. Tilt head and lift chin
What is the approximate time the brain can be anoxic before developing irreversible damage?
A. 10 min
B. 5 min
C. 2 min
D. 20 min - answer>>A. 10 min
A 79 year old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash and presents to the ED. She is on
Coumadin and a beta blocker. Which of the following statements is true concerning her
management?
A. The risk of subdural hemorrhage is decreased
B. Absence of tachycardia indicates that the patient is hemodynamically normal
C. Non-operative management of abdominal injuries is more likely to be successful in older
adults than in younger patients
D. Vigorous fluid resuscitation may be associated with cardiorespiratory failure
D. epinephrine should be infused immediately for hypotension - answer>>D. Vigorous fluid
resuscitation may be associated with cardiorespiratory failure
The most common acid base disturbance encountered in injured pediatric patients is caused by:
A. Hemorrhage
Comprehensive EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST UPDATED
VERSION 180 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS JUST RELEASED
You are treating a truama patient and attempt a definitive airway by intubation. However, the
vocal cords are not visible. What tool would be the most valuable for achieving successful
intubation?
A. Gum elastic bougie
B. Lateral cervical spine x-ray
C. Nasopharyngeal airway
D. Oxygen
E. Laryngeal mask airway - answer>>A. Gum elastic bougie
The least likely cause of a depressed level of consiousness in the multisystem injured patient is:
A. shock
B. Head injury
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Impaired oxygenation
E. Alcohol and other drugs - answer>>C. Hyperglycemia
Which one of the following statements concerning massive hemothorax is true?
A. It is usually caused by blunt thoracic trauma
B. It is commonly confused with pneumothorax
C. The diagnosis should be confirmed by upright, plain chest x-ray prior to treatment
D. The initial draining of 1000ml of blood after chest tube insertion requires immediate
thoracotomy
E. The condition should be suspected in situations with shock and unilateral absent breath
sounds - answer>>E. The condition should be suspected in situations with shock and unilateral
absent breath sounds
,During primary and secondary survey, the patient injured by blunt trauma should be completely
immobilized until
A. The neurologic exam has been completed
B. The patient is transferred to definitive care
C. The patient is able to indicate that he has no neck pain
D. A spinal fracture has been excluded by x-ray
E. The patient complains of potential pressure sores due to the spine board. - answer>>D. A
spinal fracture has been excluded by x-ray
Cervical spine injury
A. Is excluded by a normal neurologic exam
B. Is not present if the patient has normal range of motion
C. Can be detected safely by careful flexion and extension of the neck
D. Can be excluded by a crosstable lateral x-ray of the c-spine
E. May be first manifested by neurologic deficit after movement of the neck - answer>>E. May
be first manifested by neurologic deficit after movement of the neck
An 18 y/o man is brought to the ED after smashing his motorcycle into a tree. He is conscious
and alert, but paralyzed in both legs and arms. His skin is pale and cold. He complains of thirst
and difficulty in breathing. His airway is clear. His BP is 60/40 and his pulse is 140 bpm. Breath
sounds are full and equal bilaterally. He should
A. Undergo exploratory celiotomy
B. Be treated for neurogenic shock
C. Be treated for hypovolemic shock
D. Undergo immediate nasotracheal intubation
E. be placed in cervical traction tongs before any other treatment is instituted - answer>>C. Be
treated for hypovolemic shock
The principle of balanced resuscitation is:
A) Permissive hypotension and early plasma infusion
B) Equal amounts of crystalloid and colloids
,C) Simultaneous management of breathing and circulation
D) Maintenance of a normal acid base balance
E) Achieving a pulse rate <90 - answer>>A) Permissive hypotension and early plasma infusion
Healthy young male in a motor vehicle crash is brought to the emergency department with a
blood pressure of 84/60, pulse 123, GCS 10. The patient moans when his pelvis is palpated.
After initiating fluid resuscitation, the next step in management is:
A) Placement of a pelvic binder
B) Transfer to a trauma center
C) Pelvic x-ray
D) Insert urinary catheter
E) Repeat examination of pelvis - answer>>A) Placement of a pelvic binder
22 year old male fall from 2m, large right pneumothorax. Chest tube placed, connected to
drainage. Control x-ray shows pneumothorax, third x-ray reveals pneumothorax -
answer>>Tracheobronchal injury
Which one of the following is not a feature of neurogenic shock?
A. Increased venous capaitance
B. Decreased systemic vascular resistance
C. Increased cardiac output
D. Warm skin - answer>>C. Increased cardiac output
Tension pneumothorax can be caused by:
A. Flail chest
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Clamping of a chest tube
D. All of the above - answer>>D. All of the above
Which one of the following brain stem reflexes is not assessed when assessing for brain death?
, A. Dolls eyes
B. Oculovestibular reflex
C. Gag reflex
D. Argyll Robertson pupil - answer>>D. Argyll Robertson pupil
What is the simplest way to open the airway in an unconscious patient?
A. Pull out the tongue
B. Tilt head and lift chin
C. Lift neck from behind
D. Jaw thrust - answer>>B. Tilt head and lift chin
What is the approximate time the brain can be anoxic before developing irreversible damage?
A. 10 min
B. 5 min
C. 2 min
D. 20 min - answer>>A. 10 min
A 79 year old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash and presents to the ED. She is on
Coumadin and a beta blocker. Which of the following statements is true concerning her
management?
A. The risk of subdural hemorrhage is decreased
B. Absence of tachycardia indicates that the patient is hemodynamically normal
C. Non-operative management of abdominal injuries is more likely to be successful in older
adults than in younger patients
D. Vigorous fluid resuscitation may be associated with cardiorespiratory failure
D. epinephrine should be infused immediately for hypotension - answer>>D. Vigorous fluid
resuscitation may be associated with cardiorespiratory failure
The most common acid base disturbance encountered in injured pediatric patients is caused by:
A. Hemorrhage
