ATLS Post Actual Exam| NEWEST VERSION
2026 Actual Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers.
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
Twenty seven people are severely injured in an aircraft E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based on available resources
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
Which of the following statements are correct? A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
intracerebral hematoma SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
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
,An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after being shot. A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
He has one bullet wound just below the right clavicle and need more info on chest, not abdomen
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
Which of the following should be performed FIRST in any D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation
patient whose injuries may include multiple closed (ABC's)
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
A 22 year old male sustains a shotgun wound to the E. Repeat the physical exam of the chest
shoulder and chest at close range. His BP is 80/40 and
HR 130. After 2 L of crystalloid solution are rapidly decreased breath sounds w/dullness -> hemothorax, need tube to drain
infused, his BP increases to 122/84 and HR decreases to vs.
100. He is tachypneic with RR of 28. On PE, his breath decreased/absent breath sounds w/hyperresonance -> tension pneumonia, need
sounds are decreased at the left upper chest with needle decompression followed by tube
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
Which one of the following statements concerning spine B. A vertebral injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a cord injury
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
, A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6 D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
feet fall onto concrete. She is unresponsive and found to First = ABCs
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
Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of E. Decreased pulse pressure
the following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure
A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital E. retrograde urethrography
after falling 20 feet from a ladder and landing straddled -> any ecchymosis, needs to be done before catheter!
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
C. intravenous pyelography
D. CT scan
E. retrograde urethrography
A 30 year old male presents after a MVC. Vitals are RR 18, D. CT demonstrates retroperitoneal air
HR 88, BP 130/72, GCS 13. Laparatomy is indicated when: -> air, peritonitis (tenderness, rigidity), unstable vital signs
A. There is a distinct seat belt sign over the abdomen
B. The CT demonstrates a grade 4 hepatic injury
C. There is evidence of extraperitoneal bladder injury
D. CT demonstrates retroperitoneal air
E. The abdomen is distended with localized rihgt upper
quadrant tenderness
A 20 year old male is brought to the hospital E. FAST exam
approximately 30 minutes after being stabbed in the Tamponade: muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension -> FAST cardiac exam
chest. There is 3 cm wound just medial to the left nipple. Will require pericardiocentesis
BP is 70/33 and HR is 140. Neck and arm veins are
distended. Breath sounds are normal. Heart sounds are
diminished, IV access is established and warm crystalloid
is infusing. The next most important aspect of immediate
management is:
A. CT Chest
B. EKG
C. Left tube thoracostomy
D. RBC infusion
E. FAST exam
2026 Actual Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers.
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
Twenty seven people are severely injured in an aircraft E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based on available resources
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
Which of the following statements are correct? A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
intracerebral hematoma SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
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
,An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after being shot. A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
He has one bullet wound just below the right clavicle and need more info on chest, not abdomen
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
Which of the following should be performed FIRST in any D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation
patient whose injuries may include multiple closed (ABC's)
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
A 22 year old male sustains a shotgun wound to the E. Repeat the physical exam of the chest
shoulder and chest at close range. His BP is 80/40 and
HR 130. After 2 L of crystalloid solution are rapidly decreased breath sounds w/dullness -> hemothorax, need tube to drain
infused, his BP increases to 122/84 and HR decreases to vs.
100. He is tachypneic with RR of 28. On PE, his breath decreased/absent breath sounds w/hyperresonance -> tension pneumonia, need
sounds are decreased at the left upper chest with needle decompression followed by tube
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
Which one of the following statements concerning spine B. A vertebral injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a cord injury
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
, A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6 D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
feet fall onto concrete. She is unresponsive and found to First = ABCs
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
Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of E. Decreased pulse pressure
the following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure
A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital E. retrograde urethrography
after falling 20 feet from a ladder and landing straddled -> any ecchymosis, needs to be done before catheter!
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
C. intravenous pyelography
D. CT scan
E. retrograde urethrography
A 30 year old male presents after a MVC. Vitals are RR 18, D. CT demonstrates retroperitoneal air
HR 88, BP 130/72, GCS 13. Laparatomy is indicated when: -> air, peritonitis (tenderness, rigidity), unstable vital signs
A. There is a distinct seat belt sign over the abdomen
B. The CT demonstrates a grade 4 hepatic injury
C. There is evidence of extraperitoneal bladder injury
D. CT demonstrates retroperitoneal air
E. The abdomen is distended with localized rihgt upper
quadrant tenderness
A 20 year old male is brought to the hospital E. FAST exam
approximately 30 minutes after being stabbed in the Tamponade: muffled heart sounds, JVD, and hypotension -> FAST cardiac exam
chest. There is 3 cm wound just medial to the left nipple. Will require pericardiocentesis
BP is 70/33 and HR is 140. Neck and arm veins are
distended. Breath sounds are normal. Heart sounds are
diminished, IV access is established and warm crystalloid
is infusing. The next most important aspect of immediate
management is:
A. CT Chest
B. EKG
C. Left tube thoracostomy
D. RBC infusion
E. FAST exam
