ATLS 10th Edition Post-Test Actual
Questions and Verified Answers , 100%
Guarantee Score Pass
Question 1
The best guide for adequate fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is:
A. Adequate urinary output
B. Reversal of systemic acidosis
C. Normalization of the heart rate
D. A normal central venous pressure
E. 4ml/kg/percent body burn/24 hours
Correct Answer
A. Adequate urinary output
Question 2
The driver of a single car crash is orotracheally intubated in the field by prehospital
personnel after they identify a closed head injury and determine that the patient is
unable to protect his airway. In the ED, the patient demonstrate decorticate posturing
bilaterally. He is being ventilated with a bag-valve device, but his breath sounds are
absent in the left hemithorax. His blood pressure is 160/80mmHg, heart rate is 70
beats per minute, and the pulse oximeter displays a hemoglobin oxygen saturation of
96%. The next step in assessing and managing this patient should be to:
A. Determine the arterial blood gases
B. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
C. Assess placement of the endotracheal tube
D. Perform needle decompression of the left chest
E. Insert a thoracostomy in the left hemithorax.
Correct Answer
C. Assess placement of the endotracheal tube
Page 1 of 68
,Question 3
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 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 Answer
D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is a sign of
spine injury
Question 4
An 8 year old boy falls 4,5meters from a tree and is brought to the ED by his familiy.
His vital signs are normal, but he complains of left upper quadrant pain. An
abdominal CT scan reveals a moderately severe laceration of the spleen. The receiving
institution does not have 24 hour a day operating room capabilities. The most
appropriate management of this patient would be:
A. Type and crossmatch for blood
B. Request consultation of a pediatrician
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
E. Prepare the patient for surgery the next day
Correct Answer
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
Question 5
Cardiac tamponade:
A. Requires surgical intervention
B. Is defintively managed by needle pericardiocentesis
C. Is easily diagnosed by discovery of Becks triad in the ED
D. Is indicated by Kussmaul breathing
E. Is most common with blunt thoracic trauma and anterior rib fractures
Correct Answer
A. Requires surgical intervention
Page 2 of 68
,Question 6
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other than
spinal cord injury?
A. Prispism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragmatic breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them
Correct Answer
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of muscle toe
(flaccidty) and loss of reflexes.
Question 7
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his overturned tractor for
several hours before medical assistance arrives. He is awake and alert until just before
arriving in the ED. He is now unconscious and responds only to painful stimuli by
moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically reactive to light.
Prehospital personnel indicate that they have not seen the patient move either of his
lower extremities. On examination in the ED, no movement of his lower extremities
are detected, even in response to painful stimuli. The most likely cause for this finding
is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome
Correct Answer
MÅ SJEKKES
Page 3 of 68
, Question 8
An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck from behind. In the
ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart rate is 80 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that her
legs feel "funny and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show a
fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral bodies.
Correct Answer
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
Question 9
A patient arrives in the ED after being beaten about the head and face with a wooden
club. He is comatose and has a palpable depressed skull fracture. His face is swollen
and ecchymotic. He has gurgling respirations and vomitus on his face and clothing.
The most appropriate step after providing supplemental oxygen and elevating his jaw
is to:
A. Request a CT-scan
B. Insert a gastric tube
C. Suction of the oropharynx
D. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
E. Ventilate the patient with a bag-mask
Correct Answer
C. Suction of the oropharynx
Question 10
To establish a diagnosis of shock,
A. Systolic blood pressure must be below 90mmHg
B. The presence of a closed head injury should be excluded
C. Acidosis should be present by arterial blood gas analysis
D. The patient must fail to respond to intravenous fluid infusion
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
Correct Answer
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
Page 4 of 68
Questions and Verified Answers , 100%
Guarantee Score Pass
Question 1
The best guide for adequate fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is:
A. Adequate urinary output
B. Reversal of systemic acidosis
C. Normalization of the heart rate
D. A normal central venous pressure
E. 4ml/kg/percent body burn/24 hours
Correct Answer
A. Adequate urinary output
Question 2
The driver of a single car crash is orotracheally intubated in the field by prehospital
personnel after they identify a closed head injury and determine that the patient is
unable to protect his airway. In the ED, the patient demonstrate decorticate posturing
bilaterally. He is being ventilated with a bag-valve device, but his breath sounds are
absent in the left hemithorax. His blood pressure is 160/80mmHg, heart rate is 70
beats per minute, and the pulse oximeter displays a hemoglobin oxygen saturation of
96%. The next step in assessing and managing this patient should be to:
A. Determine the arterial blood gases
B. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
C. Assess placement of the endotracheal tube
D. Perform needle decompression of the left chest
E. Insert a thoracostomy in the left hemithorax.
Correct Answer
C. Assess placement of the endotracheal tube
Page 1 of 68
,Question 3
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 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 Answer
D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is a sign of
spine injury
Question 4
An 8 year old boy falls 4,5meters from a tree and is brought to the ED by his familiy.
His vital signs are normal, but he complains of left upper quadrant pain. An
abdominal CT scan reveals a moderately severe laceration of the spleen. The receiving
institution does not have 24 hour a day operating room capabilities. The most
appropriate management of this patient would be:
A. Type and crossmatch for blood
B. Request consultation of a pediatrician
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
E. Prepare the patient for surgery the next day
Correct Answer
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
Question 5
Cardiac tamponade:
A. Requires surgical intervention
B. Is defintively managed by needle pericardiocentesis
C. Is easily diagnosed by discovery of Becks triad in the ED
D. Is indicated by Kussmaul breathing
E. Is most common with blunt thoracic trauma and anterior rib fractures
Correct Answer
A. Requires surgical intervention
Page 2 of 68
,Question 6
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other than
spinal cord injury?
A. Prispism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragmatic breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them
Correct Answer
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of muscle toe
(flaccidty) and loss of reflexes.
Question 7
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his overturned tractor for
several hours before medical assistance arrives. He is awake and alert until just before
arriving in the ED. He is now unconscious and responds only to painful stimuli by
moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically reactive to light.
Prehospital personnel indicate that they have not seen the patient move either of his
lower extremities. On examination in the ED, no movement of his lower extremities
are detected, even in response to painful stimuli. The most likely cause for this finding
is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome
Correct Answer
MÅ SJEKKES
Page 3 of 68
, Question 8
An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck from behind. In the
ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart rate is 80 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that her
legs feel "funny and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show a
fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral bodies.
Correct Answer
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
Question 9
A patient arrives in the ED after being beaten about the head and face with a wooden
club. He is comatose and has a palpable depressed skull fracture. His face is swollen
and ecchymotic. He has gurgling respirations and vomitus on his face and clothing.
The most appropriate step after providing supplemental oxygen and elevating his jaw
is to:
A. Request a CT-scan
B. Insert a gastric tube
C. Suction of the oropharynx
D. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
E. Ventilate the patient with a bag-mask
Correct Answer
C. Suction of the oropharynx
Question 10
To establish a diagnosis of shock,
A. Systolic blood pressure must be below 90mmHg
B. The presence of a closed head injury should be excluded
C. Acidosis should be present by arterial blood gas analysis
D. The patient must fail to respond to intravenous fluid infusion
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
Correct Answer
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
Page 4 of 68
