PHTLS PRE AND POST TEST ASSESSMENT 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO
PASS
◉ Deterioration of ventilation and oxygenation after inflation of a
PASG in a patient who has sustained a high-pressure compression
injury of the abdomen, such as a sudden deceleration with the lap
belt placed across the abdomen, most likely represents which of the
following Answer: Ruptured diaphragm
◉ Which of the following is NOT a component of the Fick principle?
Answer: Adequate number of platelets in the blood
◉ One of the earliest signs of hypovolemic shock Answer: Anxiety
◉ Which of the following characterizes the washout phase of shock?
Answer: Systemic acidosis
◉ A trauma patient who has fallen 20 feet from an apartment
balcony is alert with warm, dry, pink skin, with normal capillary
refilling time to the lower extremities, and is hypotensive. The upper
extremities are cool, pale and diaphoretic. Which of the following
injuries should be suspected? Answer: Spinal cord injury
,◉ Which of the following is a limitation of prehospital fluid
resuscitation of the patient in hemorrhagic shock? Answer: All of the
above
◉ Which of the following statements regarding signs of
intraabdominal injury is NOT true? Answer: Substantial
intraabdominal hemorrhage always causes tenderness and
abdominal rigidity
◉ Which of the following assessment techniques is least useful in
the prehospital assessment of the patient with suspected
intraabdominal trauma? Answer: Auscultation
◉ Pregnant trauma patients should be placed on the left side
because: Answer: This prevents compression of the vena cava
◉ Survival of the fetus in a trauma situation is most dependent upon
which of the following factors? Answer: Good resuscitation of the
mother
◉ A patient struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat may
sustain a cerebral contusion to which area of the brain? Answer:
Occipital
(probably too low velocity for Coup & Contre Coup)
,◉ In the context of the caring for an adult patient with traumatic
brain injury who is deteriorating and exhibiting signs of herniation,
hyperventilation means ventilating with a BVM and 100% oxygen at
a rate of: Answer: 20
◉ In the United State, which of the following mechanisms most
frequently causes spinal cord injury in adults? Answer: Vehicle
crashes
◉ Which of the following presentation indicate spinal cord injury?
Answer: All of the above
◉ Of the following, which is the earliest indication of compartment
syndrome? Answer: Tense swelling of the involved area
◉ A traction splint may be used for which of the following Answer:
Femur fractures
◉ Which of the following descriptions meets the criteria for
transport to a facility with a burn unit? Answer: A 25 year old male
with an electrical burn across his chest
◉ The preferred method of dressing burns in the prehospital setting
is: Answer: Dry sterile dressing
, ◉ In assessing the hypothermic patient in the prehospital setting,
the most reliable indicator of the severity of hypothermia is:
Answer: Rectal temperature
◉ In the normal child, which general statement is most accurate in
comparison with the adult patient? Answer: Blood pressure is lower,
heart rate is higher, and ventilatory rate is higher
◉ A patient who withdraws from painful stimuli, opens eyes on
verbal command, and cannot speak because of intubation has a
Glasgow Coma Scale of which of the following: Answer: 8T
(E-3, V-T, M-4)
◉ The earliest site for intraosseous infusion is: Answer: Anterior
tibia, just below the tibial tuberosity
◉ Which of the following behaviors is the most reliable indication of
confusion in the elderly patient Answer: Inability to recall his/her
name
◉ In the elderly trauma patient a high index of suspicion for shock
should occur beginning when the systolic blood pressure is less
than: Answer: C. 120 mmHg
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GUARANTEED TO
PASS
◉ Deterioration of ventilation and oxygenation after inflation of a
PASG in a patient who has sustained a high-pressure compression
injury of the abdomen, such as a sudden deceleration with the lap
belt placed across the abdomen, most likely represents which of the
following Answer: Ruptured diaphragm
◉ Which of the following is NOT a component of the Fick principle?
Answer: Adequate number of platelets in the blood
◉ One of the earliest signs of hypovolemic shock Answer: Anxiety
◉ Which of the following characterizes the washout phase of shock?
Answer: Systemic acidosis
◉ A trauma patient who has fallen 20 feet from an apartment
balcony is alert with warm, dry, pink skin, with normal capillary
refilling time to the lower extremities, and is hypotensive. The upper
extremities are cool, pale and diaphoretic. Which of the following
injuries should be suspected? Answer: Spinal cord injury
,◉ Which of the following is a limitation of prehospital fluid
resuscitation of the patient in hemorrhagic shock? Answer: All of the
above
◉ Which of the following statements regarding signs of
intraabdominal injury is NOT true? Answer: Substantial
intraabdominal hemorrhage always causes tenderness and
abdominal rigidity
◉ Which of the following assessment techniques is least useful in
the prehospital assessment of the patient with suspected
intraabdominal trauma? Answer: Auscultation
◉ Pregnant trauma patients should be placed on the left side
because: Answer: This prevents compression of the vena cava
◉ Survival of the fetus in a trauma situation is most dependent upon
which of the following factors? Answer: Good resuscitation of the
mother
◉ A patient struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat may
sustain a cerebral contusion to which area of the brain? Answer:
Occipital
(probably too low velocity for Coup & Contre Coup)
,◉ In the context of the caring for an adult patient with traumatic
brain injury who is deteriorating and exhibiting signs of herniation,
hyperventilation means ventilating with a BVM and 100% oxygen at
a rate of: Answer: 20
◉ In the United State, which of the following mechanisms most
frequently causes spinal cord injury in adults? Answer: Vehicle
crashes
◉ Which of the following presentation indicate spinal cord injury?
Answer: All of the above
◉ Of the following, which is the earliest indication of compartment
syndrome? Answer: Tense swelling of the involved area
◉ A traction splint may be used for which of the following Answer:
Femur fractures
◉ Which of the following descriptions meets the criteria for
transport to a facility with a burn unit? Answer: A 25 year old male
with an electrical burn across his chest
◉ The preferred method of dressing burns in the prehospital setting
is: Answer: Dry sterile dressing
, ◉ In assessing the hypothermic patient in the prehospital setting,
the most reliable indicator of the severity of hypothermia is:
Answer: Rectal temperature
◉ In the normal child, which general statement is most accurate in
comparison with the adult patient? Answer: Blood pressure is lower,
heart rate is higher, and ventilatory rate is higher
◉ A patient who withdraws from painful stimuli, opens eyes on
verbal command, and cannot speak because of intubation has a
Glasgow Coma Scale of which of the following: Answer: 8T
(E-3, V-T, M-4)
◉ The earliest site for intraosseous infusion is: Answer: Anterior
tibia, just below the tibial tuberosity
◉ Which of the following behaviors is the most reliable indication of
confusion in the elderly patient Answer: Inability to recall his/her
name
◉ In the elderly trauma patient a high index of suspicion for shock
should occur beginning when the systolic blood pressure is less
than: Answer: C. 120 mmHg
