1|Page
ATLS Exam Study Guide ||Verified Exam!!!| Advanced
Trauma Life Support Practice Questions, Answers &
High-Yield Review||Newest Exam!!!
Functional changes in cardiac system include declining
function, decreased sensitivity to catecholamines,
atherosclerosis of coronary vessels, increased afterload,
fixed heart rate (beta blockers) - Answers-this results in
lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for cardiac
ischemia, elevated BP at baseline, and increased risk of
dysrythmias.
Functional changes in pulmonary system include
decreased elastic recoil, reduced residual capacity,
decreased gas exchange and decreased cough reflex -
Answers-thus they are at increased risk for respiratory
failure, increased risk for pneumonia, and poor tolerance
to rib fractures
Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal
mass, decreased GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH
and aldosterone - Answers-resulting in drug dosing for
renal insufficiency, decreased ability to concentrate urine,
increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with
hypovolemia
,2|Page
Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body
mass, osteoporosis, changes in joints and cartilage, c
spine degenerative changes and loss of skin elastin and
subcutaneous fat - Answers-resulting in increased risk for
fractures, decreased mobility, difficulty for oral intubation,
risk of skin injury, increased risk for hypothermia,
challenges in rehabiliation
Functional changes in Endocrine system include
decreased production and response to thyroxin and
decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) - Answers-
resulting in occult hypothyroidism, relative hypercortisone
states and increased risk of infection
True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and
cervical spine. Patients can have multilevel degenerative
changes affecting disk spaces and posterior elements
associated with severe central canal stenosis, cord
compression, and myelomalacia - Answers-true
In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary
system, placing a gauze between gums and cheek to
achieve seal when using bag valve mask ventilation is
,3|Page
okay. In addition, because aging causes a suppressed
heart rate response to hypoxia...... - Answers-respiratory
failure may present insidiously in older adults.
Age related changes in the cardiovascular system place
the elderly trauma patient at significant risk for being
inaccurately categorized as hemodynamically stable. -
Answers-Elderly patients have a fixed heart rate and fixed
cardiac output, thus, their response to hypovolemia will
involve increasing their systemic vascular resistance.
Furthermore, since older patients have HTN, an
acceptable BP may truly reflect a hypotensive state. A
systolic BP of 110 is to be utilized as the threshold for
identifying hypotension in patients 65 and older.
Do no equate blood pressure with shock in older patients -
Answers-BP in older patients may look normal due to the
medications they are on. Use lactate and base deficit to
evaluate for evidence of shock
what 2 factors place elderly patients at risk for intracranial
hemorrhage? - Answers-aging causes dura to become
more adherent to the skull increasing risk of injury and
older patients are on anticoagulant and antiplatelet
medications.
, 4|Page
Loss of subcutaneous fat, nutritional deficiencies, chronic
medical conditions place elderly patients as risk for
hypothermia and complications for immobility. - Answers-
Rapid evaluation and when possible early liberation from
spine boards and cervical collars will minimize
complications.
True or False: Fall prevention is the mainstay of reducing
the mortality associated with pelvic fractures. - Answers-
true
poor hygiene, dehydration, oral injury, contusions affecting
the inner arms, inner thighs, palms, soles, scalp, ear,
nasal bridge and temple injury from being struck while
wearing glasses, contact burns and scalds. These are all
signs of.......? - Answers-Elder maltreatment. The
presence of physical findings of maltreatment should
prompt a detailed history. if history conflicts with findings,
immediately report findings to authorities.
True of false: early activation of the trauma team may be
required for elderly patients who do not meet traditional
criteria for activation - Answers-True. A simple injury such
ATLS Exam Study Guide ||Verified Exam!!!| Advanced
Trauma Life Support Practice Questions, Answers &
High-Yield Review||Newest Exam!!!
Functional changes in cardiac system include declining
function, decreased sensitivity to catecholamines,
atherosclerosis of coronary vessels, increased afterload,
fixed heart rate (beta blockers) - Answers-this results in
lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for cardiac
ischemia, elevated BP at baseline, and increased risk of
dysrythmias.
Functional changes in pulmonary system include
decreased elastic recoil, reduced residual capacity,
decreased gas exchange and decreased cough reflex -
Answers-thus they are at increased risk for respiratory
failure, increased risk for pneumonia, and poor tolerance
to rib fractures
Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal
mass, decreased GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH
and aldosterone - Answers-resulting in drug dosing for
renal insufficiency, decreased ability to concentrate urine,
increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with
hypovolemia
,2|Page
Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body
mass, osteoporosis, changes in joints and cartilage, c
spine degenerative changes and loss of skin elastin and
subcutaneous fat - Answers-resulting in increased risk for
fractures, decreased mobility, difficulty for oral intubation,
risk of skin injury, increased risk for hypothermia,
challenges in rehabiliation
Functional changes in Endocrine system include
decreased production and response to thyroxin and
decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) - Answers-
resulting in occult hypothyroidism, relative hypercortisone
states and increased risk of infection
True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and
cervical spine. Patients can have multilevel degenerative
changes affecting disk spaces and posterior elements
associated with severe central canal stenosis, cord
compression, and myelomalacia - Answers-true
In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary
system, placing a gauze between gums and cheek to
achieve seal when using bag valve mask ventilation is
,3|Page
okay. In addition, because aging causes a suppressed
heart rate response to hypoxia...... - Answers-respiratory
failure may present insidiously in older adults.
Age related changes in the cardiovascular system place
the elderly trauma patient at significant risk for being
inaccurately categorized as hemodynamically stable. -
Answers-Elderly patients have a fixed heart rate and fixed
cardiac output, thus, their response to hypovolemia will
involve increasing their systemic vascular resistance.
Furthermore, since older patients have HTN, an
acceptable BP may truly reflect a hypotensive state. A
systolic BP of 110 is to be utilized as the threshold for
identifying hypotension in patients 65 and older.
Do no equate blood pressure with shock in older patients -
Answers-BP in older patients may look normal due to the
medications they are on. Use lactate and base deficit to
evaluate for evidence of shock
what 2 factors place elderly patients at risk for intracranial
hemorrhage? - Answers-aging causes dura to become
more adherent to the skull increasing risk of injury and
older patients are on anticoagulant and antiplatelet
medications.
, 4|Page
Loss of subcutaneous fat, nutritional deficiencies, chronic
medical conditions place elderly patients as risk for
hypothermia and complications for immobility. - Answers-
Rapid evaluation and when possible early liberation from
spine boards and cervical collars will minimize
complications.
True or False: Fall prevention is the mainstay of reducing
the mortality associated with pelvic fractures. - Answers-
true
poor hygiene, dehydration, oral injury, contusions affecting
the inner arms, inner thighs, palms, soles, scalp, ear,
nasal bridge and temple injury from being struck while
wearing glasses, contact burns and scalds. These are all
signs of.......? - Answers-Elder maltreatment. The
presence of physical findings of maltreatment should
prompt a detailed history. if history conflicts with findings,
immediately report findings to authorities.
True of false: early activation of the trauma team may be
required for elderly patients who do not meet traditional
criteria for activation - Answers-True. A simple injury such
