ATLS Post Test With correct answers
2025-2026
A-22-year-old-male-is-brought-by-ambulance-to-a-small-community-hospital-after-falling-from-the-
top-of-an-8-foot-ladder.-Initially,-he-was-found-to-have-a-large-right-pneumothorax.-A-chest-tube-
was-inserted-and-connected-to-an-underwater-seal-drainage-collection-system-with-negative-
pressure.-A-repeat-CXR-demonstrates-a-residual,-large-right-pneumothorax.-After-transferring-
the-patient-to-a-verified-trauma-center,-a-third-chest-x-ray-reveals-a-persistent-right-
pneumothorax.-The-chest-tube-appears-to-be-functioning-and-in-good-position.-He-remains-
hemodynamically-normal-with-no-signs-of-respiratory-distress.-The-most-likely-cause-for-the-
persistent-right-pneumothorax-is:
A.-Flail-chest
B.-Diaphragmatic-injury
C.-Pulmonary-contusion
D.-Esophageal-perforation
E.-Tracheobronchial-injury---correct-answers--E.-Tracheobronchial-injury
Which-of-the-following-is-LEAST-reliable-for-diagnosing-ESOPHAGEAL-intubation?
A.-symmetrical-chest-wall-movement
B.-end-tidal-CO2
,C.-bilateral-breath-sounds
D.-oxygen-saturation->92%
E.-ETT-above-carina-on-chest-x-ray---correct-answers--D.-oxygen-saturation->92%
->-if-it-says-ESOPHAGEAL,-go-with-this-answer
Which-of-the-following-signs-necessitates-the-need-for-a-definitive-airway-in-severe-trauma-
patient?
A.-facial-lacerations
B.-repeated-vomiting
C.-severe-maxillofacial-trauma
D.-sternal-fracture
E.-GCS-12---correct-answers--C.-Severe-maxillofacial-trauma
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-answers--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
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-answers--A.-
Cerebral-contusions-may-coalesce-to-form-an-intracerebral-hematoma
EM:-Epidural,-middle-meningeal
SuB:-Subdural,-Bridging-veins
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-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-answers--A.-Obtain-a-portable-chest-x-ray
need-more-info-on-chest,-not-abdomen
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-answers--D.-Ensuring-adequate-oxygenation-
and-ventilation
(ABC's)
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-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-answers--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
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-answers--B.-A-vertebral-injury-is-unlikely-in-the-absence-of-physical-
findings-of-a-cord-injury
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
2025-2026
A-22-year-old-male-is-brought-by-ambulance-to-a-small-community-hospital-after-falling-from-the-
top-of-an-8-foot-ladder.-Initially,-he-was-found-to-have-a-large-right-pneumothorax.-A-chest-tube-
was-inserted-and-connected-to-an-underwater-seal-drainage-collection-system-with-negative-
pressure.-A-repeat-CXR-demonstrates-a-residual,-large-right-pneumothorax.-After-transferring-
the-patient-to-a-verified-trauma-center,-a-third-chest-x-ray-reveals-a-persistent-right-
pneumothorax.-The-chest-tube-appears-to-be-functioning-and-in-good-position.-He-remains-
hemodynamically-normal-with-no-signs-of-respiratory-distress.-The-most-likely-cause-for-the-
persistent-right-pneumothorax-is:
A.-Flail-chest
B.-Diaphragmatic-injury
C.-Pulmonary-contusion
D.-Esophageal-perforation
E.-Tracheobronchial-injury---correct-answers--E.-Tracheobronchial-injury
Which-of-the-following-is-LEAST-reliable-for-diagnosing-ESOPHAGEAL-intubation?
A.-symmetrical-chest-wall-movement
B.-end-tidal-CO2
,C.-bilateral-breath-sounds
D.-oxygen-saturation->92%
E.-ETT-above-carina-on-chest-x-ray---correct-answers--D.-oxygen-saturation->92%
->-if-it-says-ESOPHAGEAL,-go-with-this-answer
Which-of-the-following-signs-necessitates-the-need-for-a-definitive-airway-in-severe-trauma-
patient?
A.-facial-lacerations
B.-repeated-vomiting
C.-severe-maxillofacial-trauma
D.-sternal-fracture
E.-GCS-12---correct-answers--C.-Severe-maxillofacial-trauma
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-answers--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
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-answers--A.-
Cerebral-contusions-may-coalesce-to-form-an-intracerebral-hematoma
EM:-Epidural,-middle-meningeal
SuB:-Subdural,-Bridging-veins
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-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-answers--A.-Obtain-a-portable-chest-x-ray
need-more-info-on-chest,-not-abdomen
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-answers--D.-Ensuring-adequate-oxygenation-
and-ventilation
(ABC's)
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-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-answers--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
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-answers--B.-A-vertebral-injury-is-unlikely-in-the-absence-of-physical-
findings-of-a-cord-injury
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
