ATLS POST TEST Exam Questions and Answers |Fall 2025/2026
Update | 100% Correct
Question 1
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his overturned tractor for several hours before medical
assistance arrives. He is awake and alert until just before arriving in the ED. He is now unconscious and responds only to
painful stimuli by moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically reactive to light. Prehospital personnel
indicate that they have not seen the patient move either of his lower extremities. On examination in the ED, no movement
of his lower extremities are detected, even in response to painful stimuli. The most likely cause for this finding is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome
Correct Answer
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome
Page 1 of 88
,Question 2
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
Correct Answer
D. Vigorous fluid resuscitation may be associated with cardiorespiratory failure
Question 3
A patient is brought to the ED 20 minutes after a motor vehicle crash. He is conscious and there is no obvious external
trauma. He arrives at the hospital completely immobilized on a long spine board. His blood pressure is 60/40mmHg and
his heart rate is 70 beats per minute. His skin is warm. Which one of the following statements is true?
A. Vasoactive medications have no role in the patients management
B. The hypotension should be managed with volume resuscitation alone
C. Flexion and extension views on the c-spine should be performed early
D. Occult abdominal visceral injuries can be excluded as a cause of hypotension
E. Flaccidity of the lower extremities and loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
Correct Answer
E. Flaccidity of the lower extremities and loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
Page 2 of 88
,Question 4
A 29 year old female arrives in the ED after being involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is 30 weeks pregnant. She was
restrained with a lap and shoulder belt, and an airbag deployed. Which one of the following statement best decribes the
risk of injury?
A. Deployment of the airbag increased the risk of fetal loss
B. The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints
C. The use of seatbelts is associated with increased risk of maternal death.
D. The mechanism of injury suggest the need for emergency ceasarean section due to the risk of impending abruptio
placentae
E. The deployment of the airbag increases the risk of maternal abdominal injury
Correct Answer
B. The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints
Question 5
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.
Correct Answer
D. A spinal fracture has been excluded by x-ray
Page 3 of 88
, Question 6
A 23-year-old man is brought immediately to the ED from the hospitals parking lot where he was shot in the lower
abdomen. Examination reveals a single bullet wound. He is breathing and has a thready pulse. However, he is unconsious
and has no detectable blood pressure. Optimale immediate management is to:
A. Perform a diagnostic peritoneal lavage
B. Initiate infusion of packed red blood cells
C. Insert a nasogastric tube and urinary catheter
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid therapy
E. Initiate fluid therapy to return his blood pressure to normotensive
Correct Answer
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid therapy
Question 7
Bronchial intubation at the right or left mainstem bronchus can easily occuring during infant endotracheal intubation
because
A. The trachea is relatively short
B. The distance from the lips to the larynx is relatively short
C. The use of tubes without cuffs allow the tube to slip easily
D. The mainstem bronchi are less angulated in their relation to the trachea
E. Do litte friction exist between endotracheal tube and the wall of the trachea.
Correct Answer
A. The trachea is relatively short
Page 4 of 88
Update | 100% Correct
Question 1
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his overturned tractor for several hours before medical
assistance arrives. He is awake and alert until just before arriving in the ED. He is now unconscious and responds only to
painful stimuli by moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically reactive to light. Prehospital personnel
indicate that they have not seen the patient move either of his lower extremities. On examination in the ED, no movement
of his lower extremities are detected, even in response to painful stimuli. The most likely cause for this finding is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome
Correct Answer
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome
Page 1 of 88
,Question 2
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
Correct Answer
D. Vigorous fluid resuscitation may be associated with cardiorespiratory failure
Question 3
A patient is brought to the ED 20 minutes after a motor vehicle crash. He is conscious and there is no obvious external
trauma. He arrives at the hospital completely immobilized on a long spine board. His blood pressure is 60/40mmHg and
his heart rate is 70 beats per minute. His skin is warm. Which one of the following statements is true?
A. Vasoactive medications have no role in the patients management
B. The hypotension should be managed with volume resuscitation alone
C. Flexion and extension views on the c-spine should be performed early
D. Occult abdominal visceral injuries can be excluded as a cause of hypotension
E. Flaccidity of the lower extremities and loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
Correct Answer
E. Flaccidity of the lower extremities and loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
Page 2 of 88
,Question 4
A 29 year old female arrives in the ED after being involved in a motor vehicle crash. She is 30 weeks pregnant. She was
restrained with a lap and shoulder belt, and an airbag deployed. Which one of the following statement best decribes the
risk of injury?
A. Deployment of the airbag increased the risk of fetal loss
B. The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints
C. The use of seatbelts is associated with increased risk of maternal death.
D. The mechanism of injury suggest the need for emergency ceasarean section due to the risk of impending abruptio
placentae
E. The deployment of the airbag increases the risk of maternal abdominal injury
Correct Answer
B. The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints
Question 5
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.
Correct Answer
D. A spinal fracture has been excluded by x-ray
Page 3 of 88
, Question 6
A 23-year-old man is brought immediately to the ED from the hospitals parking lot where he was shot in the lower
abdomen. Examination reveals a single bullet wound. He is breathing and has a thready pulse. However, he is unconsious
and has no detectable blood pressure. Optimale immediate management is to:
A. Perform a diagnostic peritoneal lavage
B. Initiate infusion of packed red blood cells
C. Insert a nasogastric tube and urinary catheter
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid therapy
E. Initiate fluid therapy to return his blood pressure to normotensive
Correct Answer
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid therapy
Question 7
Bronchial intubation at the right or left mainstem bronchus can easily occuring during infant endotracheal intubation
because
A. The trachea is relatively short
B. The distance from the lips to the larynx is relatively short
C. The use of tubes without cuffs allow the tube to slip easily
D. The mainstem bronchi are less angulated in their relation to the trachea
E. Do litte friction exist between endotracheal tube and the wall of the trachea.
Correct Answer
A. The trachea is relatively short
Page 4 of 88
