ATLS 10th Edition Post-Test Exam
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QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS d d d d d
2026 (VERIFIED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE
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1. What is the first step in the primary survey of a trauma patient?
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A) Airway assessment with cervical spine protection
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B) Breathing assessment d
C) Circulation assessment d
D) Disability evaluation d
Answer: A) Airway assessment with cervical spine protection
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Rationale: The primary survey follows the ABCDE approach, starting with airway mana
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gement and ensuring cervical spine protection to prevent further injury.
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2. Which of the following is the most common cause of preventable death in t
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rauma patients?
d
A) Airway obstructiond
B) Tension pneumothorax d
C) Hemorrhage
D) Traumatic brain injury d d
Answer: A) Airway obstruction
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Rationale: Airway obstruction is the most common cause of preventable death an
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d must be recognized and treated immediately.
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,3. In the primary survey, what is the correct order of assessment?
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A) Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
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B) Circulation, Airway, Breathing, Exposure, Disability
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C) Breathing, Airway, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
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D) Disability, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Exposure
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Answer: A) Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
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Rationale: The ABCDE approach prioritizes life-threatening issues first.
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4. What is the definitive treatment for a tension pneumothorax?
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A) Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion
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B) Immediate intubation d
C) Administration of high-flow oxygen d d d
D) Observation and serial chest x-rays d d d d
Answer: A) Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion
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Rationale: Needle decompression relieves the pressure, and chest tube placement defi
d d d d d d d d d d
nitively treats the pneumothorax.
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5. Which of the following is an indication for immediate thoracotomy in trauma
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patients?
A) Stable patient with hemothorax on chest x-ray
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B) Cardiac arrest with witnessed penetrating chest trauma
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C) Mild rib fractures with no respiratory distress
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D) Open fracture of the femur
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Answer: B) Cardiac arrest with witnessed penetrating chest trauma
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Rationale: Emergency thoracotomy is indicated in witnessed cardiac arrest from penet
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rating chest trauma to control hemorrhage or cardiac tamponade.
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,6. What is the “lethal triad” in trauma patients?
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A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy d d d
B) Hypotension, hypoxia, and hyperthermia d d d
C) Bradycardia, hypotension, and hypoxia d d d
D) Acidosis, hyperthermia, and anemia
d d d
Answer: A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy
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Rationale: The lethal triad worsens trauma outcomes and must be prevented or correc
d d d d d d d d d d d d
ted early.
d
7. Which injury is most likely if a patient has abdominal tenderness with a
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seatbelt sign? d
A) Small bowel injury
d d
B) Kidney contusion d
C) Liver laceration
d
D) Bladder rupture d
Answer: A) Small bowel injury
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Rationale: The seatbelt sign is associated with increased risk of hollow viscus injury
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such as small bowel perforation.
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8. When should a pelvic binder be applied?
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A) In all patients with pelvic pain
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B) When a pelvic fracture with instability is suspected
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C) Only after CT scan confirms fracture
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D) Never in trauma patients
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Answer: B) When a pelvic fracture with instability is suspected
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Rationale: Pelvic binders stabilize the pelvis to reduce bleeding in suspected unsta
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ble fractures.
d
, 9. What is the best method to assess circulation during the primary survey?
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A) Measuring blood pressure alone d d d
B) Checking pulses, capillary refill, and skin color
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C) Doing an echocardiogram
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D) Counting respiratory rate d d
Answer: B) Checking pulses, capillary refill, and skin color
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Rationale: These clinical signs give a rapid bedside assessment of perfusion.
d d d d d d d d d d
10. In trauma, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess:
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A) Airway patency d
B) Level of consciousness
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C) Blood pressure
d
D) Respiratory rate d
Answer: B) Level of consciousness
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Rationale: GCS scores neurological status, guiding the assessment of head injury severi
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ty.
11. What is the initial fluid of choice for resuscitation in hemorrhagic shock?
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A) Packed red blood cells
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B) Lactated Ringer’s solution
d d
C) Normal saline d
D) Whole blood d
Answer: B) Lactated Ringer’s solution
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Rationale: Balanced crystalloids like Lactated Ringer’s are preferred for initial fluid resu
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scitation.
12. Which of the following is NOT part of the secondary survey?
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d d d d d
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS d d d d d
2026 (VERIFIED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE
d d d d
1. What is the first step in the primary survey of a trauma patient?
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
A) Airway assessment with cervical spine protection
d d d d d
B) Breathing assessment d
C) Circulation assessment d
D) Disability evaluation d
Answer: A) Airway assessment with cervical spine protection
d d d d d d d
Rationale: The primary survey follows the ABCDE approach, starting with airway mana
d d d d d d d d d d d
gement and ensuring cervical spine protection to prevent further injury.
d d d d d d d d d
2. Which of the following is the most common cause of preventable death in t
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
rauma patients?
d
A) Airway obstructiond
B) Tension pneumothorax d
C) Hemorrhage
D) Traumatic brain injury d d
Answer: A) Airway obstruction
d d d
Rationale: Airway obstruction is the most common cause of preventable death an
d d d d d d d d d d d
d must be recognized and treated immediately.
d d d d d d
,3. In the primary survey, what is the correct order of assessment?
d d d d d d d d d d
A) Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
d d d d
B) Circulation, Airway, Breathing, Exposure, Disability
d d d d
C) Breathing, Airway, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
d d d d
D) Disability, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Exposure
d d d d
Answer: A) Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
d d d d d d
Rationale: The ABCDE approach prioritizes life-threatening issues first.
d d d d d d d
4. What is the definitive treatment for a tension pneumothorax?
d d d d d d d d
A) Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion
d d d d d d
B) Immediate intubation d
C) Administration of high-flow oxygen d d d
D) Observation and serial chest x-rays d d d d
Answer: A) Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion
d d d d d d d d
Rationale: Needle decompression relieves the pressure, and chest tube placement defi
d d d d d d d d d d
nitively treats the pneumothorax.
d d d
5. Which of the following is an indication for immediate thoracotomy in trauma
d d d d d d d d d d d d
patients?
A) Stable patient with hemothorax on chest x-ray
d d d d d d
B) Cardiac arrest with witnessed penetrating chest trauma
d d d d d d
C) Mild rib fractures with no respiratory distress
d d d d d d
D) Open fracture of the femur
d d d d
Answer: B) Cardiac arrest with witnessed penetrating chest trauma
d d d d d d d d
Rationale: Emergency thoracotomy is indicated in witnessed cardiac arrest from penet
d d d d d d d d d d
rating chest trauma to control hemorrhage or cardiac tamponade.
d d d d d d d d
,6. What is the “lethal triad” in trauma patients?
d d d d d d d
A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy d d d
B) Hypotension, hypoxia, and hyperthermia d d d
C) Bradycardia, hypotension, and hypoxia d d d
D) Acidosis, hyperthermia, and anemia
d d d
Answer: A) Hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy
d d d d d
Rationale: The lethal triad worsens trauma outcomes and must be prevented or correc
d d d d d d d d d d d d
ted early.
d
7. Which injury is most likely if a patient has abdominal tenderness with a
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
seatbelt sign? d
A) Small bowel injury
d d
B) Kidney contusion d
C) Liver laceration
d
D) Bladder rupture d
Answer: A) Small bowel injury
d d d d
Rationale: The seatbelt sign is associated with increased risk of hollow viscus injury
d d d d d d d d d d d d
such as small bowel perforation.
d d d d d
8. When should a pelvic binder be applied?
d d d d d d
A) In all patients with pelvic pain
d d d d d
B) When a pelvic fracture with instability is suspected
d d d d d d d
C) Only after CT scan confirms fracture
d d d d d
D) Never in trauma patients
d d d
Answer: B) When a pelvic fracture with instability is suspected
d d d d d d d d d
Rationale: Pelvic binders stabilize the pelvis to reduce bleeding in suspected unsta
d d d d d d d d d d d
ble fractures.
d
, 9. What is the best method to assess circulation during the primary survey?
d d d d d d d d d d d
A) Measuring blood pressure alone d d d
B) Checking pulses, capillary refill, and skin color
d d d d d d
C) Doing an echocardiogram
d d
D) Counting respiratory rate d d
Answer: B) Checking pulses, capillary refill, and skin color
d d d d d d d d
Rationale: These clinical signs give a rapid bedside assessment of perfusion.
d d d d d d d d d d
10. In trauma, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess:
d d d d d d d d d
A) Airway patency d
B) Level of consciousness
d d
C) Blood pressure
d
D) Respiratory rate d
Answer: B) Level of consciousness
d d d d
Rationale: GCS scores neurological status, guiding the assessment of head injury severi
d d d d d d d d d d d
ty.
11. What is the initial fluid of choice for resuscitation in hemorrhagic shock?
d d d d d d d d d d d
A) Packed red blood cells
d d d
B) Lactated Ringer’s solution
d d
C) Normal saline d
D) Whole blood d
Answer: B) Lactated Ringer’s solution
d d d d
Rationale: Balanced crystalloids like Lactated Ringer’s are preferred for initial fluid resu
d d d d d d d d d d d
scitation.
12. Which of the following is NOT part of the secondary survey?
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