POSTEST ATLS 2025 CERTIFICATION TEST
SCRIPT 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Which of the following is LEAST reliable for diagnosing
ESOPHAGEAL intubation?
A. symmetrical chest wall movement
B. end-tidal CO2
C. bilateral breath sounds
D. oxygen saturation >92%
E. ETT above carina on chest x-ray. Answer: D. oxygen saturation >92%
-> if it says ESOPHAGEAL, go with this answer
⩥ Which of the following signs necessitates the need for a definitive
airway in severe trauma patient?
A. facial lacerations
B. repeated vomiting
C. severe maxillofacial trauma
D. sternal fracture
E. GCS 12. Answer: C. Severe maxillofacial trauma
,⩥ Twenty seven people are severely injured in an aircraft crash at a local
airport. The principles of triage include:
A. establish a triage site within the internal perimeter of the crash site
B. treat only the most severely injured patients first
C. immediately transport all patients to the nearest hospital
D. treat the greatest number of patients in the shortest period of time
E. produce the greatest number of survivors based on available
resources. Answer: E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based on
available resources
⩥ Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the frontal region
C. Subdural hematomas are caused by injury to the middle meningeal
artery
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a lenticular shape on CT
E. The associated brain damage is more severe in epidural hematomas.
Answer: A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral
hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
⩥ An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after being shot. He has one
bullet wound just below the right clavicle and another just below the
,costal margin in the right posterior axillary line. His blood pressure is
110/60, heart rate of 90, and respiratory rate of 34. After ensuring a
patent airway and inserting 2 large caliber IV lines, the next most
appropriate step is to:
A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
B. Administer a bolus of additional IV fluid
C. Perform a laparatomy
D. Obtain an abdominal CT scan
E. Perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Answer: A. Obtain a portable
chest x-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
⩥ Which of the following should be performed FIRST in any patient
whose injuries may include multiple closed extremity fractures?
A. A thorough assessment of four limb perfusion
B. Manuevers to prevent necrosis of the skin
C. Extremity compartment syndrome release
D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation
E. Evaluation for occult crush syndrome. Answer: D. Ensuring adequate
oxygenation and ventilation
(ABC's)
⩥ A 22 year old male sustains a shotgun wound to the shoulder and chest
at close range. His BP is 80/40 and HR 130. After 2 L of crystalloid
, solution are rapidly infused, his BP increases to 122/84 and HR
decreases to 100. He is tachypneic with RR of 28. On PE, his breath
sounds are decreased at the left upper chest with dullness on percussion.
A large caliber tube thoracostomy is inserted into the fifth intercostal
space with the return of 200 mL of blood and no air leak. The most
appropriate next step is:
A. Insert a foley catheter
B. Begin to transfuse O negative blood
C. Perform thoracotomy
D. Obtain a CT Chest/Abd
E. Repeat the physical exam of the chest. Answer: E. Repeat the physical
exam of the chest
decreased breath sounds w/dullness -> hemothorax, need tube to drain
vs.
decreased/absent breath sounds w/hyperresonance -> tension
pneumonia, need needle decompression followed by tube
⩥ Which one of the following statements concerning spine and spinal
cord trauma is TRUE?
A. A normal lateral C spine film excludes injury
B. A vertebral injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a
cord injury
C. A patient with a suspected spine injury requires immobilization on a
short spine
SCRIPT 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Which of the following is LEAST reliable for diagnosing
ESOPHAGEAL intubation?
A. symmetrical chest wall movement
B. end-tidal CO2
C. bilateral breath sounds
D. oxygen saturation >92%
E. ETT above carina on chest x-ray. Answer: D. oxygen saturation >92%
-> if it says ESOPHAGEAL, go with this answer
⩥ Which of the following signs necessitates the need for a definitive
airway in severe trauma patient?
A. facial lacerations
B. repeated vomiting
C. severe maxillofacial trauma
D. sternal fracture
E. GCS 12. Answer: C. Severe maxillofacial trauma
,⩥ Twenty seven people are severely injured in an aircraft crash at a local
airport. The principles of triage include:
A. establish a triage site within the internal perimeter of the crash site
B. treat only the most severely injured patients first
C. immediately transport all patients to the nearest hospital
D. treat the greatest number of patients in the shortest period of time
E. produce the greatest number of survivors based on available
resources. Answer: E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based on
available resources
⩥ Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the frontal region
C. Subdural hematomas are caused by injury to the middle meningeal
artery
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a lenticular shape on CT
E. The associated brain damage is more severe in epidural hematomas.
Answer: A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral
hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
⩥ An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after being shot. He has one
bullet wound just below the right clavicle and another just below the
,costal margin in the right posterior axillary line. His blood pressure is
110/60, heart rate of 90, and respiratory rate of 34. After ensuring a
patent airway and inserting 2 large caliber IV lines, the next most
appropriate step is to:
A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
B. Administer a bolus of additional IV fluid
C. Perform a laparatomy
D. Obtain an abdominal CT scan
E. Perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage. Answer: A. Obtain a portable
chest x-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
⩥ Which of the following should be performed FIRST in any patient
whose injuries may include multiple closed extremity fractures?
A. A thorough assessment of four limb perfusion
B. Manuevers to prevent necrosis of the skin
C. Extremity compartment syndrome release
D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation
E. Evaluation for occult crush syndrome. Answer: D. Ensuring adequate
oxygenation and ventilation
(ABC's)
⩥ A 22 year old male sustains a shotgun wound to the shoulder and chest
at close range. His BP is 80/40 and HR 130. After 2 L of crystalloid
, solution are rapidly infused, his BP increases to 122/84 and HR
decreases to 100. He is tachypneic with RR of 28. On PE, his breath
sounds are decreased at the left upper chest with dullness on percussion.
A large caliber tube thoracostomy is inserted into the fifth intercostal
space with the return of 200 mL of blood and no air leak. The most
appropriate next step is:
A. Insert a foley catheter
B. Begin to transfuse O negative blood
C. Perform thoracotomy
D. Obtain a CT Chest/Abd
E. Repeat the physical exam of the chest. Answer: E. Repeat the physical
exam of the chest
decreased breath sounds w/dullness -> hemothorax, need tube to drain
vs.
decreased/absent breath sounds w/hyperresonance -> tension
pneumonia, need needle decompression followed by tube
⩥ Which one of the following statements concerning spine and spinal
cord trauma is TRUE?
A. A normal lateral C spine film excludes injury
B. A vertebral injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a
cord injury
C. A patient with a suspected spine injury requires immobilization on a
short spine
