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ATLS Post Test | 10th Edition | Updated 2025/2026 | 75
Verified MCQs with 100% Correct Answers
1. A 22-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed motor vehicle
collision. He is hemodynamically unstable with a distended abdomen. After initial assessment, what is
the next priority?
• A) CT scan of the abdomen
• B) Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
• C) Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
• D) Immediate laparotomy
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
2. A 45-year-old woman falls from a height of 4 meters. She has paradoxical chest wall movement on the
left side. Which finding is most likely?
• A) Simple pneumothorax
• B) Flail chest
• C) Cardiac tamponade
• D) Tension pneumothorax
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
3. A 30-year-old pedestrian is struck by a car. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 6. What is the first
step in management?
• A) CT scan of the head
• B) Endotracheal intubation
• C) Cervical spine immobilization
• D) IV fluid bolus
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
,2
4. A 60-year-old man has a gunshot wound to the right chest. Breath sounds are absent on the right, and
the trachea is deviated to the left. Blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate next
intervention?
• A) Needle decompression of the right chest
• B) Chest tube insertion on the right
• C) Pericardiocentesis
• D) Intubation
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
5. In a hypotensive trauma patient with a positive FAST exam, which finding indicates the need for
immediate laparotomy?
• A) Free fluid in Morrison’s pouch
• B) Pericardial effusion
• C) Pneumothorax
• D) Pelvic fracture
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
6. A 25-year-old man sustains a stab wound to the left upper quadrant. He is hypotensive and has a rigid
abdomen. What is the best next step?
• A) CT scan
• B) Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
• C) Laparotomy
• D) Observation
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
7. Which of the following is the most reliable sign of tension pneumothorax in a mechanically ventilated
patient?
• A) Hypotension
• B) Decreased breath sounds
• C) Increased peak airway pressure
,3
• D) Subcutaneous emphysema
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
8. A 40-year-old woman is involved in a rollover crash. She has a GCS of 14, complains of neck pain, and
has no neurologic deficits. What is the appropriate management for her cervical spine?
• A) Remove the collar after clinical clearance using NEXUS criteria
• B) Obtain CT of the cervical spine
• C) Maintain collar and obtain flexion-extension views
• D) Obtain MRI of the cervical spine
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
9. In a patient with massive hemothorax, the initial chest tube output that warrants immediate
thoracotomy is:
• A) 500 mL
• B) 1000 mL
• C) 1500 mL
• D) 2000 mL
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
10. A 35-year-old man has a deep laceration to the anterior neck. He has expanding hematoma and
stridor. What is the priority?
• A) CT angiography
• B) Direct pressure
• C) Intubation
• D) Surgical exploration
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
11. Which of the following is a contraindication to placing a nasogastric tube in a trauma patient?
• A) GCS < 8
• B) Facial fractures
, 4
• C) Pelvic fracture
• D) Thoracic spine injury
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
12. A 55-year-old man falls from a ladder. He has a GCS of 15, no loss of consciousness, and is taking
warfarin. What is the most appropriate next step?
• A) Discharge home with head injury instructions
• B) CT scan of the head
• C) Skull radiographs
• D) Admission for observation
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
13. In a trauma patient with suspected shock, the initial fluid resuscitation of choice is:
• A) 0.9% normal saline
• B) Lactated Ringer’s solution
• C) 5% albumin
• D) Packed red blood cells
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
14. A 28-year-old man is stabbed in the precordium. He is hypotensive with distended neck veins. Which
of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
• A) Tension pneumothorax
• B) Cardiac tamponade
• C) Massive hemothorax
• D) Aortic disruption
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
15. Which of the following is an indication for emergency department thoracotomy?
• A) Pulseless electrical activity after blunt trauma
ATLS Post Test | 10th Edition | Updated 2025/2026 | 75
Verified MCQs with 100% Correct Answers
1. A 22-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed motor vehicle
collision. He is hemodynamically unstable with a distended abdomen. After initial assessment, what is
the next priority?
• A) CT scan of the abdomen
• B) Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
• C) Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
• D) Immediate laparotomy
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
2. A 45-year-old woman falls from a height of 4 meters. She has paradoxical chest wall movement on the
left side. Which finding is most likely?
• A) Simple pneumothorax
• B) Flail chest
• C) Cardiac tamponade
• D) Tension pneumothorax
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
3. A 30-year-old pedestrian is struck by a car. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 6. What is the first
step in management?
• A) CT scan of the head
• B) Endotracheal intubation
• C) Cervical spine immobilization
• D) IV fluid bolus
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
,2
4. A 60-year-old man has a gunshot wound to the right chest. Breath sounds are absent on the right, and
the trachea is deviated to the left. Blood pressure is 80/50 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate next
intervention?
• A) Needle decompression of the right chest
• B) Chest tube insertion on the right
• C) Pericardiocentesis
• D) Intubation
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
5. In a hypotensive trauma patient with a positive FAST exam, which finding indicates the need for
immediate laparotomy?
• A) Free fluid in Morrison’s pouch
• B) Pericardial effusion
• C) Pneumothorax
• D) Pelvic fracture
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
6. A 25-year-old man sustains a stab wound to the left upper quadrant. He is hypotensive and has a rigid
abdomen. What is the best next step?
• A) CT scan
• B) Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
• C) Laparotomy
• D) Observation
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
7. Which of the following is the most reliable sign of tension pneumothorax in a mechanically ventilated
patient?
• A) Hypotension
• B) Decreased breath sounds
• C) Increased peak airway pressure
,3
• D) Subcutaneous emphysema
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
8. A 40-year-old woman is involved in a rollover crash. She has a GCS of 14, complains of neck pain, and
has no neurologic deficits. What is the appropriate management for her cervical spine?
• A) Remove the collar after clinical clearance using NEXUS criteria
• B) Obtain CT of the cervical spine
• C) Maintain collar and obtain flexion-extension views
• D) Obtain MRI of the cervical spine
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
9. In a patient with massive hemothorax, the initial chest tube output that warrants immediate
thoracotomy is:
• A) 500 mL
• B) 1000 mL
• C) 1500 mL
• D) 2000 mL
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
10. A 35-year-old man has a deep laceration to the anterior neck. He has expanding hematoma and
stridor. What is the priority?
• A) CT angiography
• B) Direct pressure
• C) Intubation
• D) Surgical exploration
✔✔ Answer✔✔ C
11. Which of the following is a contraindication to placing a nasogastric tube in a trauma patient?
• A) GCS < 8
• B) Facial fractures
, 4
• C) Pelvic fracture
• D) Thoracic spine injury
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
12. A 55-year-old man falls from a ladder. He has a GCS of 15, no loss of consciousness, and is taking
warfarin. What is the most appropriate next step?
• A) Discharge home with head injury instructions
• B) CT scan of the head
• C) Skull radiographs
• D) Admission for observation
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
13. In a trauma patient with suspected shock, the initial fluid resuscitation of choice is:
• A) 0.9% normal saline
• B) Lactated Ringer’s solution
• C) 5% albumin
• D) Packed red blood cells
✔✔ Answer✔✔ A
14. A 28-year-old man is stabbed in the precordium. He is hypotensive with distended neck veins. Which
of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
• A) Tension pneumothorax
• B) Cardiac tamponade
• C) Massive hemothorax
• D) Aortic disruption
✔✔ Answer✔✔ B
15. Which of the following is an indication for emergency department thoracotomy?
• A) Pulseless electrical activity after blunt trauma
