ATLS Practice 2024/2025 – Advanced Trauma Life Support
Complete Exam Questions with Correct Answers
Question 1: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A 34-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed collision. He is
conscious but hypotensive and tachycardic. What is the first step in his management according
to ATLS guidelines?
A) Insert a central venous line
B) Administer two liters of IV crystalloids
C) Ensure a patent airway with cervical spine protection
D) Perform a focused abdominal ultrasound (FAST)
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: According to the ATLS primary survey, the first priority is airway management with
cervical spine protection (A of the ABCDE approach). Circulatory resuscitation and diagnostics
follow airway stabilization.
Question 2: (Initial Assessment and Management)
During the primary survey of a trauma patient, which adjunct is most appropriate immediately
after addressing ABCDE?
A) Obtain a full history using AMPLE
B) Perform a head-to-toe examination
C) Administer tetanus prophylaxis
D) Order laboratory blood work
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: ATLS recommends obtaining vital signs, oxygen saturation, and initial labs (e.g.,
type and crossmatch) as adjuncts during the primary survey to guide resuscitation, before
proceeding to secondary survey.
Question 3: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A patient arrives unresponsive after a fall. After securing the airway, what is the next immediate
action?
A) Assess breathing and provide oxygen
B) Check circulation and control bleeding
C) Evaluate disability using AVPU
D) Fully expose the patient
,Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The ABCDE sequence mandates assessing breathing after airway; inadequate
ventilation is a common cause of hypoxia in trauma.
Question 4: (Initial Assessment and Management)
In the ATLS primary survey, what does the "D" in ABCDE represent?
A) Disability (neurologic status)
B) Drainage (wound care)
C) Drugs (analgesia administration)
D) Documentation (charting)
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Disability involves rapid neurologic assessment (AVPU or GCS) to identify brain
injury or shock effects, per ATLS 10th Edition.
Question 5: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A trauma patient with suspected hypothermia is found during exposure. What is the priority
intervention?
A) Apply warm blankets and fluids
B) Delay exposure until warming equipment arrives
C) Proceed to secondary survey
D) Administer prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: ATLS emphasizes preventing further heat loss during exposure (E) to avoid the
lethal triad (hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy).
Question 6: (Initial Assessment and Management)
Which is a key component of the trauma team leader's role in the primary survey?
A) Performing all procedures personally
B) Delegating tasks and monitoring reassessment
C) Documenting all findings
D) Administering all medications
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The 10th Edition stresses teamwork; the leader coordinates the ABCDE survey
and ensures continuous reassessment.
Question 7: (Initial Assessment and Management)
,A patient in the ED after MVC has a GCS of 10. What is the ATLS classification for this head
injury?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Unclassifiable
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ATLS 10th Edition classifies moderate TBI as GCS 9-13; requires CT and
monitoring for deterioration.
Question 8: (Initial Assessment and Management)
What is the purpose of the secondary survey in ATLS?
A) Immediate life-saving interventions
B) Head-to-toe exam and history
C) Fluid resuscitation
D) Triage decisions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: After primary survey stabilization, the secondary survey identifies all injuries via
AMPLE history and physical exam.
Question 9: (Initial Assessment and Management)
In a resource-limited setting, which ATLS principle guides transfer decisions?
A) Perform all diagnostics first
B) Stabilize ABCs then transfer if needed
C) Delay transfer for full imaging
D) Prioritize non-life-threatening injuries
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ATLS prioritizes life threats; unnecessary delays at non-trauma centers increase
mortality.
Question 10: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A patient with multiple injuries has a brief loss of consciousness. What is the first reassessment
step?
A) Repeat ABCDE
B) Obtain CT scan
C) Splint fractures
, D) Insert NG tube
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: ATLS mandates repeating the primary survey if deterioration occurs to detect new
threats.
Question 11: (Initial Assessment and Management)
What is the ATLS recommendation for analgesia in the initial assessment?
A) Administer opioids immediately
B) Assess pain after ABCDE
C) Avoid until secondary survey
D) Use only for severe pain
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Pain control follows stabilization to avoid masking symptoms during primary
survey.
Question 12: (Initial Assessment and Management)
In the ABCDE approach, exposure must balance what two risks?
A) Hypothermia and missing injuries
B) Infection and bleeding
C) Pain and mobility
D) Radiation and diagnosis
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Full exposure reveals injuries but risks hypothermia; warm the patient concurrently
per ATLS.
Question 13: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A combative patient requires sedation for imaging. What ATLS guideline applies?
A) Delay imaging
B) Use ketamine for dissociation
C) Full paralysis first
D) Avoid sedation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ATLS 10th Edition recommends ketamine for procedural sedation in trauma to
maintain hemodynamics.
Complete Exam Questions with Correct Answers
Question 1: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A 34-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed collision. He is
conscious but hypotensive and tachycardic. What is the first step in his management according
to ATLS guidelines?
A) Insert a central venous line
B) Administer two liters of IV crystalloids
C) Ensure a patent airway with cervical spine protection
D) Perform a focused abdominal ultrasound (FAST)
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: According to the ATLS primary survey, the first priority is airway management with
cervical spine protection (A of the ABCDE approach). Circulatory resuscitation and diagnostics
follow airway stabilization.
Question 2: (Initial Assessment and Management)
During the primary survey of a trauma patient, which adjunct is most appropriate immediately
after addressing ABCDE?
A) Obtain a full history using AMPLE
B) Perform a head-to-toe examination
C) Administer tetanus prophylaxis
D) Order laboratory blood work
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: ATLS recommends obtaining vital signs, oxygen saturation, and initial labs (e.g.,
type and crossmatch) as adjuncts during the primary survey to guide resuscitation, before
proceeding to secondary survey.
Question 3: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A patient arrives unresponsive after a fall. After securing the airway, what is the next immediate
action?
A) Assess breathing and provide oxygen
B) Check circulation and control bleeding
C) Evaluate disability using AVPU
D) Fully expose the patient
,Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The ABCDE sequence mandates assessing breathing after airway; inadequate
ventilation is a common cause of hypoxia in trauma.
Question 4: (Initial Assessment and Management)
In the ATLS primary survey, what does the "D" in ABCDE represent?
A) Disability (neurologic status)
B) Drainage (wound care)
C) Drugs (analgesia administration)
D) Documentation (charting)
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Disability involves rapid neurologic assessment (AVPU or GCS) to identify brain
injury or shock effects, per ATLS 10th Edition.
Question 5: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A trauma patient with suspected hypothermia is found during exposure. What is the priority
intervention?
A) Apply warm blankets and fluids
B) Delay exposure until warming equipment arrives
C) Proceed to secondary survey
D) Administer prophylactic antibiotics
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: ATLS emphasizes preventing further heat loss during exposure (E) to avoid the
lethal triad (hypothermia, acidosis, coagulopathy).
Question 6: (Initial Assessment and Management)
Which is a key component of the trauma team leader's role in the primary survey?
A) Performing all procedures personally
B) Delegating tasks and monitoring reassessment
C) Documenting all findings
D) Administering all medications
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The 10th Edition stresses teamwork; the leader coordinates the ABCDE survey
and ensures continuous reassessment.
Question 7: (Initial Assessment and Management)
,A patient in the ED after MVC has a GCS of 10. What is the ATLS classification for this head
injury?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Unclassifiable
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ATLS 10th Edition classifies moderate TBI as GCS 9-13; requires CT and
monitoring for deterioration.
Question 8: (Initial Assessment and Management)
What is the purpose of the secondary survey in ATLS?
A) Immediate life-saving interventions
B) Head-to-toe exam and history
C) Fluid resuscitation
D) Triage decisions
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: After primary survey stabilization, the secondary survey identifies all injuries via
AMPLE history and physical exam.
Question 9: (Initial Assessment and Management)
In a resource-limited setting, which ATLS principle guides transfer decisions?
A) Perform all diagnostics first
B) Stabilize ABCs then transfer if needed
C) Delay transfer for full imaging
D) Prioritize non-life-threatening injuries
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ATLS prioritizes life threats; unnecessary delays at non-trauma centers increase
mortality.
Question 10: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A patient with multiple injuries has a brief loss of consciousness. What is the first reassessment
step?
A) Repeat ABCDE
B) Obtain CT scan
C) Splint fractures
, D) Insert NG tube
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: ATLS mandates repeating the primary survey if deterioration occurs to detect new
threats.
Question 11: (Initial Assessment and Management)
What is the ATLS recommendation for analgesia in the initial assessment?
A) Administer opioids immediately
B) Assess pain after ABCDE
C) Avoid until secondary survey
D) Use only for severe pain
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Pain control follows stabilization to avoid masking symptoms during primary
survey.
Question 12: (Initial Assessment and Management)
In the ABCDE approach, exposure must balance what two risks?
A) Hypothermia and missing injuries
B) Infection and bleeding
C) Pain and mobility
D) Radiation and diagnosis
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Full exposure reveals injuries but risks hypothermia; warm the patient concurrently
per ATLS.
Question 13: (Initial Assessment and Management)
A combative patient requires sedation for imaging. What ATLS guideline applies?
A) Delay imaging
B) Use ketamine for dissociation
C) Full paralysis first
D) Avoid sedation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: ATLS 10th Edition recommends ketamine for procedural sedation in trauma to
maintain hemodynamics.
