ATLS ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT (ATLS)
Question and Answer [2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam | Complete Exam Prep
• What are adjuncts to Primary Survey and Resuscitation? -✓✓ ECG monitoring
Urinary/Gastric Catheters
Other Monitoring
X-ray and Dx studies.
• What makes up the Secondary Survey? -✓✓ History and Physical Exam
Mechanism of Injury
Head and Maxillofacial
C-spine
Chest
Abdomen
Perineum/Rectum/Vagina
Musculoskeletal
Neurologic
• Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? -✓✓ 1. Preparation
2. Triage
3. Primary survey
4. Adjunct to Primary survey
5. Re-assess ABCDE and consider need for transfer
6. Transfer if needed
7. Secondary Survey
, 8. Adjuncts to second Survey
9. Pt. re-evaluation
10. Definitive Care.
• What is something you could do to get a quick assessment of ABCD? -✓✓ Ask
the pt. a question. If they can respond it can give you an idea about their airway
and mental status. Failure to respond tells you there are abnormalities in ABCD.
• What assumption can safely be made in a pt. with blunt multisystem trauma
above the clavicle or Altered mental status? -✓✓ That the C-spine is compromised.
• 4 Steps to manage A? -✓✓ Assess for patency
Establish airway
Maintain C-spine
Reinstate Proper C-spine devices.
• 2 steps to Breathing? -✓✓ 1.Expose Neck and chest to inspect and palpate.
Percuss chest for presence of dullness or hyperresonance, auscultate chest
bilaterally. All this checking for Tension Pneumo, Flail chest, Hemothorax, Open
Pneumothorax.
2. Administer High concentration O2, ventilate with bag, alleviate Tension
Pneumo, attach CO2 monitor to ET tube, Pulse ox.
• What is the predominant cause of preventable deaths after injury? -✓✓
Hemorrhage.
Question and Answer [2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam | Complete Exam Prep
• What are adjuncts to Primary Survey and Resuscitation? -✓✓ ECG monitoring
Urinary/Gastric Catheters
Other Monitoring
X-ray and Dx studies.
• What makes up the Secondary Survey? -✓✓ History and Physical Exam
Mechanism of Injury
Head and Maxillofacial
C-spine
Chest
Abdomen
Perineum/Rectum/Vagina
Musculoskeletal
Neurologic
• Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? -✓✓ 1. Preparation
2. Triage
3. Primary survey
4. Adjunct to Primary survey
5. Re-assess ABCDE and consider need for transfer
6. Transfer if needed
7. Secondary Survey
, 8. Adjuncts to second Survey
9. Pt. re-evaluation
10. Definitive Care.
• What is something you could do to get a quick assessment of ABCD? -✓✓ Ask
the pt. a question. If they can respond it can give you an idea about their airway
and mental status. Failure to respond tells you there are abnormalities in ABCD.
• What assumption can safely be made in a pt. with blunt multisystem trauma
above the clavicle or Altered mental status? -✓✓ That the C-spine is compromised.
• 4 Steps to manage A? -✓✓ Assess for patency
Establish airway
Maintain C-spine
Reinstate Proper C-spine devices.
• 2 steps to Breathing? -✓✓ 1.Expose Neck and chest to inspect and palpate.
Percuss chest for presence of dullness or hyperresonance, auscultate chest
bilaterally. All this checking for Tension Pneumo, Flail chest, Hemothorax, Open
Pneumothorax.
2. Administer High concentration O2, ventilate with bag, alleviate Tension
Pneumo, attach CO2 monitor to ET tube, Pulse ox.
• What is the predominant cause of preventable deaths after injury? -✓✓
Hemorrhage.
