ATLS Post Test 2 Study Guide
Exam Latest 2026/2027
Updated Verified Questions
and Solutions A+ Pass
Guaranteed
1. A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automobile, is admitted
to the emergency department 1 hour after injury. His blood
pressure is 80/60 mmHg, heart rate 140 beats per minute and
respiratory rate is 36 per minute. He is lethargic. Oxygen is
delivered via face mask, and two large-caliber IVs are initiated.
Arterial blood gases are obtained. His PaO2 is 118 mmHg, PaCO2 is
30 mmHg, and pH is 7.21. The treatment of his acid-base disorder
is best accomplished by:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Restoration of normal perfusion
C. Initiation of low-dose dopamine
D. Administration of sodium bicarbonate
E. Initiation of phenylepinephrine infusion
- ANS - B
2. The highest priority in managing a patient whose injuries include
closed extremity fractures is:
A. Assessing limb perfusion
B. Preventing necrosis of the skin
C. Decompressing compartment syndrome
, D. Addressing respiratory insufficiency
E. Identifying crush syndrome
- ANS - D
3. A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash is brought
to the emergency department. She is talking, but her voice is
hoarse and on exposure she has diagonal bruising of the chest and
anterior neck. What is the next step?
A. Direct laryngoscopy to exclude laryngeal trauma
B. Oxygen by non-rebreathing mask
C. Protecting the spine by making her lie down
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger
- ANS - B
4. A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right lower
chest, midway between the nipple and the costal margin. He is
brought by ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical
capabilities. In the emergency department he is endotracheally
intubated, fluid resuscitation is initiated through two large-caliber
IV lines, and a closed tube thoracostomy is performed, with the
return of 200 ml of blood. A chest x- ray reveals correct placement
of the chest tube and a small residual hemothorax. His blood
pressure is now 70/0 mmHg, and his heart rate is 140 beats per
minute. His hypotension is most likely due to:
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Massive hemothorax
C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Intraabdominal bleeding
E. Insufficient isotonic crystalloid infusion
- ANS - D
, 5. A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash after having
ridden for hours on a very hot day. When he arrives in the
emergency department, he shouts that he cannot move his legs. On
physical examination, there are no abnormalities of the chest,
abdomen, or pelvis. The patient has no sensation in his legs and
cannot move them, but his arms are moving. The patient's
respiratory rate is 22, heart rate is 88, and blood pressure is 80/60
mmHg. He is pale and sweaty. What is the most likely cause of his
hypotension?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Hyperthermia
E. Hemorrhagic shock
- ANS - E
6. Compared with adults, children have:
A. A longer, wider, funnel-shaped airway
B. A less pliable, calcified skeleton
C. Greater mobility of mediastinal structures
D. A relatively smaller head and larger jaw
E. Anterior displacement of C5 on C6
- ANS - C
7. Which one of the findings below requires a definitive airway in
trauma patients?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Partial thickness facial burns, cough, and hoarseness
D. Sternal fracture
Exam Latest 2026/2027
Updated Verified Questions
and Solutions A+ Pass
Guaranteed
1. A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automobile, is admitted
to the emergency department 1 hour after injury. His blood
pressure is 80/60 mmHg, heart rate 140 beats per minute and
respiratory rate is 36 per minute. He is lethargic. Oxygen is
delivered via face mask, and two large-caliber IVs are initiated.
Arterial blood gases are obtained. His PaO2 is 118 mmHg, PaCO2 is
30 mmHg, and pH is 7.21. The treatment of his acid-base disorder
is best accomplished by:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Restoration of normal perfusion
C. Initiation of low-dose dopamine
D. Administration of sodium bicarbonate
E. Initiation of phenylepinephrine infusion
- ANS - B
2. The highest priority in managing a patient whose injuries include
closed extremity fractures is:
A. Assessing limb perfusion
B. Preventing necrosis of the skin
C. Decompressing compartment syndrome
, D. Addressing respiratory insufficiency
E. Identifying crush syndrome
- ANS - D
3. A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash is brought
to the emergency department. She is talking, but her voice is
hoarse and on exposure she has diagonal bruising of the chest and
anterior neck. What is the next step?
A. Direct laryngoscopy to exclude laryngeal trauma
B. Oxygen by non-rebreathing mask
C. Protecting the spine by making her lie down
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger
- ANS - B
4. A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right lower
chest, midway between the nipple and the costal margin. He is
brought by ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical
capabilities. In the emergency department he is endotracheally
intubated, fluid resuscitation is initiated through two large-caliber
IV lines, and a closed tube thoracostomy is performed, with the
return of 200 ml of blood. A chest x- ray reveals correct placement
of the chest tube and a small residual hemothorax. His blood
pressure is now 70/0 mmHg, and his heart rate is 140 beats per
minute. His hypotension is most likely due to:
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Massive hemothorax
C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Intraabdominal bleeding
E. Insufficient isotonic crystalloid infusion
- ANS - D
, 5. A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash after having
ridden for hours on a very hot day. When he arrives in the
emergency department, he shouts that he cannot move his legs. On
physical examination, there are no abnormalities of the chest,
abdomen, or pelvis. The patient has no sensation in his legs and
cannot move them, but his arms are moving. The patient's
respiratory rate is 22, heart rate is 88, and blood pressure is 80/60
mmHg. He is pale and sweaty. What is the most likely cause of his
hypotension?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Hyperthermia
E. Hemorrhagic shock
- ANS - E
6. Compared with adults, children have:
A. A longer, wider, funnel-shaped airway
B. A less pliable, calcified skeleton
C. Greater mobility of mediastinal structures
D. A relatively smaller head and larger jaw
E. Anterior displacement of C5 on C6
- ANS - C
7. Which one of the findings below requires a definitive airway in
trauma patients?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Partial thickness facial burns, cough, and hoarseness
D. Sternal fracture
