ATLS PRACTICE EXAM
1. What injuries may necessitate inter-hospital transfer?(3)
Answer:
1) Head or spinal cord trauma
2) Pulmonary contusions
3) Severe burns
*consider time between injury and definitive care as well as resources available at
local facilities*
2. A 34 year old man is injured in a motor vehicle collision. Physical examination
is normal except for diffuse abdominal tenderness. He is conscious and vital signs
obtained enroute to the hospital are respirations 20 per ,minute, pulse rate
is 120 per minute blood pressure 100/60; How should this patient be managedin the
field?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Intravenous fluid at 20 ml/kg bolus
C. Fentanyl 100 mcg intravenous
D. Insert an oropharyngeal airway and assist ventilations
Answer: A. Intravenous fluidat a "keep open" rate
3. What is Sellick's maneuver?
A. A method allowing the rescuer to hold a mask on the face with both hands
B. A system used to calculate minute volume
C. Another name for Mallampati
D. Posteriorly directed pressure applied to the cricoid cartilage
Answer: D. Posteriorlydirected pressure applied to the cricoid cartilage
4. A 16 year old girl is rescued from a burning house. She has 25% partial
thickness burns, and the burned areas are hot to the touch. What is the appropriate
treatment?
A. Apply ice to burned areas until cool to touch
B. Apply clean water to burned areas for up to 1-2 minutes
C. Apply iced water to burned areas until cool to touch
D. Do not apply anything to burned areas other than clean sheets
Answer: B. Applyclean water to burned areas for up to 1-2 minutes
5. What treatment is NOT indicated in the routine management of the patientwith a
head injury?
A. Administration of 100% oxygen
B. Fluid resuscitation to a BP of 110-120 systolic if the patient is hypotensive
C. Hyperventilating to obtain an EtCO2 of less than 30
, D. Stabilization of the cervical spine
Answer: C. Hyperventilating to obtain an EtCO2 ofless than 30
6. Which of the following sets of vital signs is most compatible with a diagnosis
of isolated head injury with increasing intracranial pressure?
A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
B. BP 80/60, pulse 130/min
C. BP 80/60, pulse 50/min
D. BP 170/100, pulse 130/min
Answer: A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
7. Which one of the following is a reason to interrupt the initial assessment?
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Multiple open (compound) fractures
C. Severe head injury with brain tissue visible
D. Severe shock
Answer: A. Cardiac arrest
8. What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
A. Proximal tibia
B. Distal humerus
C. Proximal femur
D. Distal fibula
Answer: A. Proximal tibia
9. A 34 year old man has a gunshot wound to the right groin area. Arterial
bleeding, which cannot be controlled with direct pressure, is coming from thewound.
The patient appears confused, diaphoretic, and has weak peripheral pulses. What is
the appropriate fluid resuscitation for this patient?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough fluidto
maintain peripheral pulses
C. Intravenous fluid at a wide open rate; give at least two liters, then reassesspatient
D. No intravenous access should be established in this situation
Answer: B. Applya hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough
fluid to maintainperipheral pulses
10. Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic
hemorrhage, EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure
1. What injuries may necessitate inter-hospital transfer?(3)
Answer:
1) Head or spinal cord trauma
2) Pulmonary contusions
3) Severe burns
*consider time between injury and definitive care as well as resources available at
local facilities*
2. A 34 year old man is injured in a motor vehicle collision. Physical examination
is normal except for diffuse abdominal tenderness. He is conscious and vital signs
obtained enroute to the hospital are respirations 20 per ,minute, pulse rate
is 120 per minute blood pressure 100/60; How should this patient be managedin the
field?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Intravenous fluid at 20 ml/kg bolus
C. Fentanyl 100 mcg intravenous
D. Insert an oropharyngeal airway and assist ventilations
Answer: A. Intravenous fluidat a "keep open" rate
3. What is Sellick's maneuver?
A. A method allowing the rescuer to hold a mask on the face with both hands
B. A system used to calculate minute volume
C. Another name for Mallampati
D. Posteriorly directed pressure applied to the cricoid cartilage
Answer: D. Posteriorlydirected pressure applied to the cricoid cartilage
4. A 16 year old girl is rescued from a burning house. She has 25% partial
thickness burns, and the burned areas are hot to the touch. What is the appropriate
treatment?
A. Apply ice to burned areas until cool to touch
B. Apply clean water to burned areas for up to 1-2 minutes
C. Apply iced water to burned areas until cool to touch
D. Do not apply anything to burned areas other than clean sheets
Answer: B. Applyclean water to burned areas for up to 1-2 minutes
5. What treatment is NOT indicated in the routine management of the patientwith a
head injury?
A. Administration of 100% oxygen
B. Fluid resuscitation to a BP of 110-120 systolic if the patient is hypotensive
C. Hyperventilating to obtain an EtCO2 of less than 30
, D. Stabilization of the cervical spine
Answer: C. Hyperventilating to obtain an EtCO2 ofless than 30
6. Which of the following sets of vital signs is most compatible with a diagnosis
of isolated head injury with increasing intracranial pressure?
A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
B. BP 80/60, pulse 130/min
C. BP 80/60, pulse 50/min
D. BP 170/100, pulse 130/min
Answer: A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
7. Which one of the following is a reason to interrupt the initial assessment?
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Multiple open (compound) fractures
C. Severe head injury with brain tissue visible
D. Severe shock
Answer: A. Cardiac arrest
8. What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
A. Proximal tibia
B. Distal humerus
C. Proximal femur
D. Distal fibula
Answer: A. Proximal tibia
9. A 34 year old man has a gunshot wound to the right groin area. Arterial
bleeding, which cannot be controlled with direct pressure, is coming from thewound.
The patient appears confused, diaphoretic, and has weak peripheral pulses. What is
the appropriate fluid resuscitation for this patient?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough fluidto
maintain peripheral pulses
C. Intravenous fluid at a wide open rate; give at least two liters, then reassesspatient
D. No intravenous access should be established in this situation
Answer: B. Applya hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given enough
fluid to maintainperipheral pulses
10. Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic
hemorrhage, EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure
