1|Page
ATLS POST Test Exam With Verified
Solutions|2025|2026
Which of the following is the recommended Method for treatment frostbite?
A. Vasodilators
B. Anticigulants
C. Warm (40 degrees) water
D. Padding and elevation
E. Application of heat from a hairdryer - correct-answer -C. Warm (40 degrees)
water
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other
than spinal cord injury?
A. Priapism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragmatic breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them - correct-answer -D. Presence of
deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of muscle toe (flaccidty) and loss
of reflexes.
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The primary indication for transferring A patient to a higher level trauma center is:
A. Unavailibility of surgeon or operating staff
B. Multiple system injuries, including severe head injury
C. Resource limitations as determined by the transferring doctor
D. Resource limitations as determined by the hospital administration
E. Widened mediastinum on chest x-ray following blunt trauma - correct-answer -
C. Resource limitations as determined by the transferring doctor
A young man sustains a rifle wound to the mid-abdomen. He is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphoretic, and his
systolic blood pressure is 58mmHg. Warmed crystalloid fluids are initiated without
improvement in his vital signs. The next, most appropriate, step is to perform:
A. a laparotomy
B. An abdominal CT-scan
C. Diagnostic laparoscopy
D. Abdominal ultrasonography
E. A diagnostic peritoneal lavage - correct-answer -A. Laparotomy because of
hemodynamic abnormality
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
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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
A 6-year-o boy is struck by an automobile and brought to the ED. He is lethargic,
but withdraws purposefully from painful stimuli. His blood pressure is 90mmHg
systolic, heart rate 140 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 36 breaths per
minute. The preferred route of venous access in this patient is:
A. Percutaneous femoral vein cannulation
B. Cutdown on the saphenous vein at the ankle
C. Intraosseous catheter placement in the proximal tibia
D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremities
E. Central venous access via the subclavian or internal jugular vein - correct-
answer -D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremities
A young man sustains a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphoretic, and he is
, 4|Page
confused. His pulse is thready and his femoral pulse is only weakly palpable. The
definitive treatment in managing this patient is to:
A. Administer O-negative blood
B. Apply external warming devices
C. Control internal hemorrhage operatively
D. Apply a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG)
E. Infuse large volumes of intravenous crystalloid solutions. - correct-answer -C.
Control internal hemorrhage operatively
Regarding shock in the child, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Vital signs are age-related
B. Children have greater physiologic reserves than do adults
C. Tachycardia is the primary physiologic response to hypovolemia
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in
adults
E. An initial fluid bolus for resuscitation should approximate 20ml/kg Ringers
Lactate - correct-answer -D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to
produce shock is the same as in adults
A 33-year-old man is struck by a car travelling at 56km/h (35mph). He has obvious
fractures of the left tibia near the knee, pain in the pelvic area, and severe
dyspnea. His heart rate is 182 beats per minute, and his respiratory rate is 48
breaths per minute with no breath sounds heard in the left chest. A tension
pneumothorax is relieved by immediate needle decompression and tube
ATLS POST Test Exam With Verified
Solutions|2025|2026
Which of the following is the recommended Method for treatment frostbite?
A. Vasodilators
B. Anticigulants
C. Warm (40 degrees) water
D. Padding and elevation
E. Application of heat from a hairdryer - correct-answer -C. Warm (40 degrees)
water
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other
than spinal cord injury?
A. Priapism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragmatic breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them - correct-answer -D. Presence of
deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of muscle toe (flaccidty) and loss
of reflexes.
,2|Page
The primary indication for transferring A patient to a higher level trauma center is:
A. Unavailibility of surgeon or operating staff
B. Multiple system injuries, including severe head injury
C. Resource limitations as determined by the transferring doctor
D. Resource limitations as determined by the hospital administration
E. Widened mediastinum on chest x-ray following blunt trauma - correct-answer -
C. Resource limitations as determined by the transferring doctor
A young man sustains a rifle wound to the mid-abdomen. He is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphoretic, and his
systolic blood pressure is 58mmHg. Warmed crystalloid fluids are initiated without
improvement in his vital signs. The next, most appropriate, step is to perform:
A. a laparotomy
B. An abdominal CT-scan
C. Diagnostic laparoscopy
D. Abdominal ultrasonography
E. A diagnostic peritoneal lavage - correct-answer -A. Laparotomy because of
hemodynamic abnormality
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
,3|Page
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
A 6-year-o boy is struck by an automobile and brought to the ED. He is lethargic,
but withdraws purposefully from painful stimuli. His blood pressure is 90mmHg
systolic, heart rate 140 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 36 breaths per
minute. The preferred route of venous access in this patient is:
A. Percutaneous femoral vein cannulation
B. Cutdown on the saphenous vein at the ankle
C. Intraosseous catheter placement in the proximal tibia
D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremities
E. Central venous access via the subclavian or internal jugular vein - correct-
answer -D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremities
A young man sustains a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphoretic, and he is
, 4|Page
confused. His pulse is thready and his femoral pulse is only weakly palpable. The
definitive treatment in managing this patient is to:
A. Administer O-negative blood
B. Apply external warming devices
C. Control internal hemorrhage operatively
D. Apply a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG)
E. Infuse large volumes of intravenous crystalloid solutions. - correct-answer -C.
Control internal hemorrhage operatively
Regarding shock in the child, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Vital signs are age-related
B. Children have greater physiologic reserves than do adults
C. Tachycardia is the primary physiologic response to hypovolemia
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in
adults
E. An initial fluid bolus for resuscitation should approximate 20ml/kg Ringers
Lactate - correct-answer -D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to
produce shock is the same as in adults
A 33-year-old man is struck by a car travelling at 56km/h (35mph). He has obvious
fractures of the left tibia near the knee, pain in the pelvic area, and severe
dyspnea. His heart rate is 182 beats per minute, and his respiratory rate is 48
breaths per minute with no breath sounds heard in the left chest. A tension
pneumothorax is relieved by immediate needle decompression and tube
