POST TEST ATLS 2026 ACTUAL TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS VERIFIED COMPLETE
STUDY PACKAGE
◉ A 25-year-old woman is brought to the ED after a motor vehicle
crash. She was initially lucid at the scene and then developed a
dilated pupil and contralateral extremity weakness. In the ED, she is
unconscious and has a GCS score of 6. The initial management step
for this patient should be to:
A. Obtain a CT-scan of the head
B. Administer decadron 20mg IV
C. Perform endotracheal intubation
D. Administer mannitol 1g/kg IV
E. Perform an emergency bone flap craniotomy on the side of the
dilated pupil..
Answer: C. Perform endotracheal intubation
◉ A contraindication to nasogastric intubation is the presence of a:
A. Gastric perforation
B. Diaphragmatic rupture
C. Open depressed skull fracture
D. Fracture of the cervical spine
,E. Fracture of the cribiform plate.
Answer: E. Fracture of the cribiform plate
◉ An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck
from behind. In the ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart
rate is 80 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 16 breaths per
minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that her legs feel "funny
and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show a
fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral
bodies..
Answer: D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray
studies
◉ Immediate chest tube insertion is indicated for which of the
following conditions?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumomediastinum
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Diaphragmatic rupture
,E. Subcutaneous emphysema.
Answer: C. Massive hemothorax
◉ Cardiac tamponade after trauma:
A. Is seldom life-threating
B. Can be excluded by an upright, AP chest x-ray
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
D. Causes a fall in systolic pressure of > 15mmHg with expiration
E. Most commonly occurs after blunt injury to the anterior chest
wall.
Answer: C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
◉ A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his
motorcycle into a telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound
shock. He has no open wounds or obvious fractures. The cause of his
shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
A. A subdural hematoma
B. An epidural hematoma
C. A transected lumbar spinal cord
D. A basilar skull fracture
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen.
Answer: E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen
, ◉ Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh-
isoimmunization in the pregnant trauma patient?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. Minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage produce it
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
D. This is not a problem in the traumatized Rh-positive pregnant
patient
E. Initiation of Rh-immunoglobulin therapy does not require proof of
fetomaternal hemorrhage.
Answer: C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-
Isoimmunzation
◉ All of the following signs on the chest x-ray of a blunt injury victim
may suggest aortic rupture EXCEPT:
A. Mediastinal emphysema
B. Presence of a "pleural cap"
C. Obliteration of the aortic knob
D. Deviation of the trachea to the right
E. Depression of the left mainstem bronchus.
Answer: A. Mediastinal emphysema
◉ Early central venous pressure monitoring during fluid
resusciation in the ED has the greatest utility in a:
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS VERIFIED COMPLETE
STUDY PACKAGE
◉ A 25-year-old woman is brought to the ED after a motor vehicle
crash. She was initially lucid at the scene and then developed a
dilated pupil and contralateral extremity weakness. In the ED, she is
unconscious and has a GCS score of 6. The initial management step
for this patient should be to:
A. Obtain a CT-scan of the head
B. Administer decadron 20mg IV
C. Perform endotracheal intubation
D. Administer mannitol 1g/kg IV
E. Perform an emergency bone flap craniotomy on the side of the
dilated pupil..
Answer: C. Perform endotracheal intubation
◉ A contraindication to nasogastric intubation is the presence of a:
A. Gastric perforation
B. Diaphragmatic rupture
C. Open depressed skull fracture
D. Fracture of the cervical spine
,E. Fracture of the cribiform plate.
Answer: E. Fracture of the cribiform plate
◉ An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck
from behind. In the ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart
rate is 80 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 16 breaths per
minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that her legs feel "funny
and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show a
fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral
bodies..
Answer: D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray
studies
◉ Immediate chest tube insertion is indicated for which of the
following conditions?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumomediastinum
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Diaphragmatic rupture
,E. Subcutaneous emphysema.
Answer: C. Massive hemothorax
◉ Cardiac tamponade after trauma:
A. Is seldom life-threating
B. Can be excluded by an upright, AP chest x-ray
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
D. Causes a fall in systolic pressure of > 15mmHg with expiration
E. Most commonly occurs after blunt injury to the anterior chest
wall.
Answer: C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
◉ A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his
motorcycle into a telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound
shock. He has no open wounds or obvious fractures. The cause of his
shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
A. A subdural hematoma
B. An epidural hematoma
C. A transected lumbar spinal cord
D. A basilar skull fracture
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen.
Answer: E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen
, ◉ Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh-
isoimmunization in the pregnant trauma patient?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. Minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage produce it
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
D. This is not a problem in the traumatized Rh-positive pregnant
patient
E. Initiation of Rh-immunoglobulin therapy does not require proof of
fetomaternal hemorrhage.
Answer: C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-
Isoimmunzation
◉ All of the following signs on the chest x-ray of a blunt injury victim
may suggest aortic rupture EXCEPT:
A. Mediastinal emphysema
B. Presence of a "pleural cap"
C. Obliteration of the aortic knob
D. Deviation of the trachea to the right
E. Depression of the left mainstem bronchus.
Answer: A. Mediastinal emphysema
◉ Early central venous pressure monitoring during fluid
resusciation in the ED has the greatest utility in a:
