ATLS ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT (ATLS)
Question and Answer [2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam | 100% Verified Answers
• 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 -✓✓ D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation
and ventilation
(ABC's)
• 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 -✓✓ 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 -✓✓ A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
• 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 -✓✓ E.
Produce the greatest number of survivors based on available resources
• 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 -✓✓ 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 -✓✓ 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
B. Establishing IV access for drug-assisted intubation
C. Seeking the cause of her decreased level of consciousness
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
, E. Excluding hemorrhage as a cause of shock -✓✓ D. Applying oxygen and
maintaining airway
First = ABCs
• Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of the following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure -✓✓ E. Decreased pulse pressure
• A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital after falling 20 feet from a
ladder and landing straddled on a fence. Examination of his perineum reveals
extensive ecchymosis. There is blood in the external urethral meatus. The initial
diagnostic study for the evaluation of the urinary tract should be:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystography
C. intravenous pyelography
D. CT scan
E. retrograde urethrography -✓✓ E. retrograde urethrography
-> any ecchymosis, needs to be done before catheter!
• A 30 year old male presents after a MVC. Vitals are RR 18, HR 88, BP 130/72,
GCS 13. Laparatomy is indicated when:
A. There is a distinct seat belt sign over the abdomen
B. The CT demonstrates a grade 4 hepatic injury
C. There is evidence of extraperitoneal bladder injury
Question and Answer [2026] | UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam | 100% Verified Answers
• 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 -✓✓ D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation
and ventilation
(ABC's)
• 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 -✓✓ 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 -✓✓ A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
• 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 -✓✓ E.
Produce the greatest number of survivors based on available resources
• 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 -✓✓ 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 -✓✓ 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
B. Establishing IV access for drug-assisted intubation
C. Seeking the cause of her decreased level of consciousness
D. Applying oxygen and maintaining airway
, E. Excluding hemorrhage as a cause of shock -✓✓ D. Applying oxygen and
maintaining airway
First = ABCs
• Signs and symptoms of airway compromise include all of the following except:
A. Change in voice
B. Stridor
C. Tachypea
D. Dyspnea and agitation
E. Decreased pulse pressure -✓✓ E. Decreased pulse pressure
• A 47 year old house painter is brought to the hospital after falling 20 feet from a
ladder and landing straddled on a fence. Examination of his perineum reveals
extensive ecchymosis. There is blood in the external urethral meatus. The initial
diagnostic study for the evaluation of the urinary tract should be:
A. cystoscopy
B. cystography
C. intravenous pyelography
D. CT scan
E. retrograde urethrography -✓✓ E. retrograde urethrography
-> any ecchymosis, needs to be done before catheter!
• A 30 year old male presents after a MVC. Vitals are RR 18, HR 88, BP 130/72,
GCS 13. Laparatomy is indicated when:
A. There is a distinct seat belt sign over the abdomen
B. The CT demonstrates a grade 4 hepatic injury
C. There is evidence of extraperitoneal bladder injury
