PHTLS Pre & Post Test
With respect to the distance of a fall, which of the following is a guideline for
determining a critical fall?
A. 3 times the height of the patient
B. 2 times the height of the patient
C. 5 times the height of the patient
D. 1 ½ times the height of the patient - CORRECT ANSWER-A. 3 times the height of
the patient
The phase of an explosion, or blast, in which hollow organs are squeezed and may
rupture is called the __________ phase.
A. Tertiary phase
B. Quaternary phase
C. Secondary phase
D. Primary phase - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Primary phase
During the primary survey and management of a trauma patient, the E in ABCDE stands
for _________?
A. Edema
B. Eyes & ears
C. Expose/Environment
D. Electrical therapy - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Expose/Environment
The time in which surgical intervention can make a difference in patient outcome is the
__________?
A. Golden period
B. Golden time
,C. Golden era
D. Golden minutes - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Golden period (hour)
In the absence of extenuating circumstances, the maximum amount of time it should
take to identify and manage immediate threats to life, prepare the patient for transport
and begin transport is _________?
A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 15 minutes
D. 30 minutes - CORRECT ANSWER-B. 10 minutes
In which of the following situations is the use of a short spinal immobilization device
indicated?
A. 28 year old male, unrestrained driver in a frontal impact crash. Awake, asks repeatedly
what happened, complains of a headache, has a hematoma on his forehead. BP 122/84,
HR 92, VR 20.
B. 40 year old female who was pushed down a flight of stairs and is lying prone on the
landing between two flights of stairs, complaining of back pain. BP 118/78, HR 100, VR
20.
C. 17 year old female, restrained driver in a frontal impact crash. Awake, pale and
diaphoretic, complains of upper right quadrant abdominal pain. BP 100/70, HR 108, VR
20.
D. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-D. None of the above
Your patient is a 32 year old man, restrained driver of a vehicle that has been involved in
a frontal impact with a concrete bridge abutment. The patient is awake, but has difficulty
answering questions due to shortness of breath. His ventilatory rate is 30 per minute. Of
the following choices, when is the first time the patient's breath sounds should be
checked?
, A. As soon as he is removed from the vehicle
B. Prior to being removed from the vehicle
C. As soon as he is immobilized on a long backboard
D. Enroute to the trauma center - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Prior to being removed from
the vehicle
Which of the following represents adequate spontaneous ventilation in an adult?
A. Tidal volume 100 mL, ventilatory rate 40/minute
B. Tidal volume 500 mL, ventilatory rate 8/minute
C. Tidal volume 300 mL, ventilatory rate 16/minute
D. Tidal volume 600 mL, ventilatory rate 12/minute - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Tidal
volume 600 mL, ventilatory rate 12/minute
Which of the following is 100% accurate in verifying endotracheal tube placement?
A. Pulse oximetry
B. End-tidal capnometry
C. Syringe aspiration
D. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-D. None of the above
When utilizing percutaneous transtracheal ventilation, the correct ration of lung inflation
to lung inflation time, in seconds, is:
A. 1:4
B. 1:5
C. 1:2
D. 2:2 - CORRECT ANSWER-A. 1:4
Which of the following is a possible complication of using a manually triggered oxygen
powered device for ventilation?
A. Gastric distention
B. Pneumothorax
With respect to the distance of a fall, which of the following is a guideline for
determining a critical fall?
A. 3 times the height of the patient
B. 2 times the height of the patient
C. 5 times the height of the patient
D. 1 ½ times the height of the patient - CORRECT ANSWER-A. 3 times the height of
the patient
The phase of an explosion, or blast, in which hollow organs are squeezed and may
rupture is called the __________ phase.
A. Tertiary phase
B. Quaternary phase
C. Secondary phase
D. Primary phase - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Primary phase
During the primary survey and management of a trauma patient, the E in ABCDE stands
for _________?
A. Edema
B. Eyes & ears
C. Expose/Environment
D. Electrical therapy - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Expose/Environment
The time in which surgical intervention can make a difference in patient outcome is the
__________?
A. Golden period
B. Golden time
,C. Golden era
D. Golden minutes - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Golden period (hour)
In the absence of extenuating circumstances, the maximum amount of time it should
take to identify and manage immediate threats to life, prepare the patient for transport
and begin transport is _________?
A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 15 minutes
D. 30 minutes - CORRECT ANSWER-B. 10 minutes
In which of the following situations is the use of a short spinal immobilization device
indicated?
A. 28 year old male, unrestrained driver in a frontal impact crash. Awake, asks repeatedly
what happened, complains of a headache, has a hematoma on his forehead. BP 122/84,
HR 92, VR 20.
B. 40 year old female who was pushed down a flight of stairs and is lying prone on the
landing between two flights of stairs, complaining of back pain. BP 118/78, HR 100, VR
20.
C. 17 year old female, restrained driver in a frontal impact crash. Awake, pale and
diaphoretic, complains of upper right quadrant abdominal pain. BP 100/70, HR 108, VR
20.
D. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-D. None of the above
Your patient is a 32 year old man, restrained driver of a vehicle that has been involved in
a frontal impact with a concrete bridge abutment. The patient is awake, but has difficulty
answering questions due to shortness of breath. His ventilatory rate is 30 per minute. Of
the following choices, when is the first time the patient's breath sounds should be
checked?
, A. As soon as he is removed from the vehicle
B. Prior to being removed from the vehicle
C. As soon as he is immobilized on a long backboard
D. Enroute to the trauma center - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Prior to being removed from
the vehicle
Which of the following represents adequate spontaneous ventilation in an adult?
A. Tidal volume 100 mL, ventilatory rate 40/minute
B. Tidal volume 500 mL, ventilatory rate 8/minute
C. Tidal volume 300 mL, ventilatory rate 16/minute
D. Tidal volume 600 mL, ventilatory rate 12/minute - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Tidal
volume 600 mL, ventilatory rate 12/minute
Which of the following is 100% accurate in verifying endotracheal tube placement?
A. Pulse oximetry
B. End-tidal capnometry
C. Syringe aspiration
D. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-D. None of the above
When utilizing percutaneous transtracheal ventilation, the correct ration of lung inflation
to lung inflation time, in seconds, is:
A. 1:4
B. 1:5
C. 1:2
D. 2:2 - CORRECT ANSWER-A. 1:4
Which of the following is a possible complication of using a manually triggered oxygen
powered device for ventilation?
A. Gastric distention
B. Pneumothorax
