ATLS:
PRETESTS
QUESTIONS
&
ANSWERS
2026
, ATLS: Pretests Q&A 2023
1. Thoracic trauma. Chest tube insertion.
A 22 year old man :is hypotensive and tachycarclic after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder.
His blood after initial N fluid resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy :is performed for
decreased 1eft breath sounds
a) reexamine the chest
b) perform an aortogram
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses
e) perform tranesohageal echocardiography
answer: a.
info: chest tube insertion, p. 108.
2. Musculoskeletaltrauma. Extremity trauma.
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral cakaneal
fractures. In the emergency department, he :is alert, vital signs are normal, and he :is
complaining of severe pain in both heels andh:is lower back. Lower extremity pulses are
strong and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnos:is:is most likelyto be confirmed
by
a) ang iography
b) compartment pre ssures
c) retrograde urethrogram
d) Doppler-ultrasound studies
e) complete spine x-ray series
answer: e.
3. Trauma in women.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, all of the following changes occur normallyEXCEPT
a
a) decrease in PaC02
b) decrease in leukocyte count
c) reduced gastric emptying rate
d) diminished res:idual lungvolume
e) diminished elvic ligament tension
answer: b.
info: p. 261.
1
, 4. Head Trauma.
In managing the head injured patient, the most important initial step is to
a) secure the airway
b) obtain c-spine film
c) support circu1ation
c) control scalp hemorrhage
e) determine the GCS score
answer: a.
info: p. 154.
5. Shock.
A previously healthy, 70kg (154 pound) man suffers an estimated acute blood 1oss of 2 liters.
Which one of the following statements applies to this patient?
a) his pu1se pressure will be widened
b) his urinary output will be at the 1ower limits of normal
c) he will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic b1ood pressure
d) his systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed pu1se ressure (true)
e) his systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated diastolic pressure
answer: d.
info: p. 61.
6. Trauma in Women.
The physio1ogic hypervolem:ia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the management of
the severely injured, gravid woman by
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema
c) complicating the management of cJosed head injury
d) reducing the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation
e) increasing the vo1ume of b1ood 1oss
to produce maternal hypotension
answer: e.
info: p. 261.
7. Thermal Injuries. Injury Due to Burn and Cold.
The best guide for adequate fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is
2
PRETESTS
QUESTIONS
&
ANSWERS
2026
, ATLS: Pretests Q&A 2023
1. Thoracic trauma. Chest tube insertion.
A 22 year old man :is hypotensive and tachycarclic after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder.
His blood after initial N fluid resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy :is performed for
decreased 1eft breath sounds
a) reexamine the chest
b) perform an aortogram
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses
e) perform tranesohageal echocardiography
answer: a.
info: chest tube insertion, p. 108.
2. Musculoskeletaltrauma. Extremity trauma.
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral cakaneal
fractures. In the emergency department, he :is alert, vital signs are normal, and he :is
complaining of severe pain in both heels andh:is lower back. Lower extremity pulses are
strong and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnos:is:is most likelyto be confirmed
by
a) ang iography
b) compartment pre ssures
c) retrograde urethrogram
d) Doppler-ultrasound studies
e) complete spine x-ray series
answer: e.
3. Trauma in women.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, all of the following changes occur normallyEXCEPT
a
a) decrease in PaC02
b) decrease in leukocyte count
c) reduced gastric emptying rate
d) diminished res:idual lungvolume
e) diminished elvic ligament tension
answer: b.
info: p. 261.
1
, 4. Head Trauma.
In managing the head injured patient, the most important initial step is to
a) secure the airway
b) obtain c-spine film
c) support circu1ation
c) control scalp hemorrhage
e) determine the GCS score
answer: a.
info: p. 154.
5. Shock.
A previously healthy, 70kg (154 pound) man suffers an estimated acute blood 1oss of 2 liters.
Which one of the following statements applies to this patient?
a) his pu1se pressure will be widened
b) his urinary output will be at the 1ower limits of normal
c) he will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic b1ood pressure
d) his systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed pu1se ressure (true)
e) his systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated diastolic pressure
answer: d.
info: p. 61.
6. Trauma in Women.
The physio1ogic hypervolem:ia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the management of
the severely injured, gravid woman by
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema
c) complicating the management of cJosed head injury
d) reducing the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation
e) increasing the vo1ume of b1ood 1oss
to produce maternal hypotension
answer: e.
info: p. 261.
7. Thermal Injuries. Injury Due to Burn and Cold.
The best guide for adequate fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is
2
