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ATLS Post Actual Exam NEWEST VERSION 2026 Actual Exam
with Verified Questions and Correct Answers [2 VERSIONS]
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 -
CORRECT ANSWER E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based
on available resources
QUESTION : 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 -
CORRECT ANSWER A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an
intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
QUESTION : 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
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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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 - CORRECT ANSWER A. Obtain
a portable chest x-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
QUESTION : 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 - CORRECT ANSWER D.
Ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation
(ABC's)
QUESTION : 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
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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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 - CORRECT 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
QUESTION : 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
D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is a sign of
spine injury
E. Determination of whether a spinal cord lesion is complete or incomplete must
be made in the primary survey - CORRECT ANSWER B. A vertebral
injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a cord injury
2026 2027 GRADED A+
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QUESTION : A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6 feet fall onto
concrete. She is unresponsive and found to have a RR of 32, BP of 90/60, and HR
of 68. The FIRST step in treatment is:
A. Administering vasopressors
B. Establishing IV access for drug-assisted intubation
C. Seeking the cause of her decreased level of consciousness
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
E. Excluding hemorrhage as a cause of shock - CORRECT ANSWER D.
Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
First = ABCs
QUESTION : Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of the
following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure - CORRECT ANSWER E. Decreased pulse
pressure
QUESTION : A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital after falling 20
feet from a ladder and landing straddled on a fence. Examination of his
perineum reveals extensive ecchymosis. There is blood in the external urethral
meatus. The initial diagnostic study for the evaluation of the urinary tract should
be:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystography
2026 2027 GRADED A+
ATLS Post Actual Exam NEWEST VERSION 2026 Actual Exam
with Verified Questions and Correct Answers [2 VERSIONS]
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 -
CORRECT ANSWER E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based
on available resources
QUESTION : 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 -
CORRECT ANSWER A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an
intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
QUESTION : 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
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,2|Page
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 - CORRECT ANSWER A. Obtain
a portable chest x-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
QUESTION : 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 - CORRECT ANSWER D.
Ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation
(ABC's)
QUESTION : 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
2026 2027 GRADED A+
,3|Page
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 - CORRECT 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
QUESTION : 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
D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is a sign of
spine injury
E. Determination of whether a spinal cord lesion is complete or incomplete must
be made in the primary survey - CORRECT ANSWER B. A vertebral
injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a cord injury
2026 2027 GRADED A+
, 4|Page
QUESTION : A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6 feet fall onto
concrete. She is unresponsive and found to have a RR of 32, BP of 90/60, and HR
of 68. The FIRST step in treatment is:
A. Administering vasopressors
B. Establishing IV access for drug-assisted intubation
C. Seeking the cause of her decreased level of consciousness
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
E. Excluding hemorrhage as a cause of shock - CORRECT ANSWER D.
Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
First = ABCs
QUESTION : Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of the
following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure - CORRECT ANSWER E. Decreased pulse
pressure
QUESTION : A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital after falling 20
feet from a ladder and landing straddled on a fence. Examination of his
perineum reveals extensive ecchymosis. There is blood in the external urethral
meatus. The initial diagnostic study for the evaluation of the urinary tract should
be:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystography
2026 2027 GRADED A+
