ATLS PRACTICE QUESTION BANK: 350
UNIQUE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Airway Management (#1-15)
- Breathing & Ventilation (#16-30)
- Circulation & Hemorrhage Control (#31-50)
- Shock Classification & Management (#51-70)
- Head Injury (#71-90)
- Spinal Cord Injury (#91-110)
- Thoracic Trauma (#111-135)
- Abdominal Trauma (#136-160)
- Musculoskeletal Trauma (#161-180)
- Pediatric Trauma (#181-200)
- Burn Management (#201-220)
- Special Populations & Topics (#221-240)
- Trauma Resuscitation & Transfer (#241-260)
- Diagnostic Studies & Adjuncts (#261-280)
- Trauma Team & Communication (#281-295)
- Mass Casualty & Disaster Management (#296-310)
- Additional Clinical Scenarios (#311-350)
1
,AIRWAY MANAGEMENT
Question 1: What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an
unconscious trauma patient?
A. Foreign body aspiration
B. Tongue falling back against the posterior pharynx
C. Laryngeal fracture
D. Maxillofacial trauma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of skeletal muscle tone in an unconscious patient allows the tongue
to fall back against the posterior pharynx, obstructing the airway. This is the most
common cause of airway obstruction in unconscious patients. While foreign
bodies, laryngeal fractures, and maxillofacial trauma can all cause airway
obstruction, they are less common than posterior displacement of the tongue.
---
Question 2: Which of the following defines a "definitive airway" in ATLS?
A. A supraglottic airway device
B. A cuffed tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated and connected to
oxygen
C. A nasopharyngeal airway
2
,D. A face mask with a reservoir bag
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A definitive airway secures the trachea, prevents aspiration, and allows
for mechanical ventilation. It consists of a cuffed endotracheal tube placed in the
trachea with the cuff inflated, connected to a source of oxygen. Supraglottic
devices, nasopharyngeal airways, and face masks do not provide definitive airway
protection.
---
Question 3: What is the initial maneuver to open the airway in a trauma patient
with a suspected cervical spine injury?
A. Head tilt-chin lift
B. Jaw thrust
C. Neck extension
D. Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The jaw thrust maneuver opens the airway while minimizing movement
of the cervical spine, making it the preferred initial maneuver in trauma patients
with suspected cervical spine injury. The head tilt-chin lift and neck extension are
contraindicated as they can worsen spinal cord injury.
---
3
, Question 4: Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to nasotracheal
intubation?
A. Suspected cervical spine injury
B. Midface or basilar skull fractures
C. Trismus
D. Obesity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nasotracheal intubation risks intracranial placement of the tube if the
cribriform plate is fractured. Midface or basilar skull fractures are absolute
contraindications due to the risk of passing the tube through a fracture into the
cranial cavity.
---
Question 5: What is the most reliable clinical indicator of adequate ventilation?
A. Normal pulse oximetry
B. Visible chest rise and fall
C. Clear breath sounds
D. Normal end-tidal CO₂
Correct Answer: B
4
UNIQUE MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Airway Management (#1-15)
- Breathing & Ventilation (#16-30)
- Circulation & Hemorrhage Control (#31-50)
- Shock Classification & Management (#51-70)
- Head Injury (#71-90)
- Spinal Cord Injury (#91-110)
- Thoracic Trauma (#111-135)
- Abdominal Trauma (#136-160)
- Musculoskeletal Trauma (#161-180)
- Pediatric Trauma (#181-200)
- Burn Management (#201-220)
- Special Populations & Topics (#221-240)
- Trauma Resuscitation & Transfer (#241-260)
- Diagnostic Studies & Adjuncts (#261-280)
- Trauma Team & Communication (#281-295)
- Mass Casualty & Disaster Management (#296-310)
- Additional Clinical Scenarios (#311-350)
1
,AIRWAY MANAGEMENT
Question 1: What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in an
unconscious trauma patient?
A. Foreign body aspiration
B. Tongue falling back against the posterior pharynx
C. Laryngeal fracture
D. Maxillofacial trauma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of skeletal muscle tone in an unconscious patient allows the tongue
to fall back against the posterior pharynx, obstructing the airway. This is the most
common cause of airway obstruction in unconscious patients. While foreign
bodies, laryngeal fractures, and maxillofacial trauma can all cause airway
obstruction, they are less common than posterior displacement of the tongue.
---
Question 2: Which of the following defines a "definitive airway" in ATLS?
A. A supraglottic airway device
B. A cuffed tube placed in the trachea with the cuff inflated and connected to
oxygen
C. A nasopharyngeal airway
2
,D. A face mask with a reservoir bag
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A definitive airway secures the trachea, prevents aspiration, and allows
for mechanical ventilation. It consists of a cuffed endotracheal tube placed in the
trachea with the cuff inflated, connected to a source of oxygen. Supraglottic
devices, nasopharyngeal airways, and face masks do not provide definitive airway
protection.
---
Question 3: What is the initial maneuver to open the airway in a trauma patient
with a suspected cervical spine injury?
A. Head tilt-chin lift
B. Jaw thrust
C. Neck extension
D. Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The jaw thrust maneuver opens the airway while minimizing movement
of the cervical spine, making it the preferred initial maneuver in trauma patients
with suspected cervical spine injury. The head tilt-chin lift and neck extension are
contraindicated as they can worsen spinal cord injury.
---
3
, Question 4: Which of the following is an absolute contraindication to nasotracheal
intubation?
A. Suspected cervical spine injury
B. Midface or basilar skull fractures
C. Trismus
D. Obesity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nasotracheal intubation risks intracranial placement of the tube if the
cribriform plate is fractured. Midface or basilar skull fractures are absolute
contraindications due to the risk of passing the tube through a fracture into the
cranial cavity.
---
Question 5: What is the most reliable clinical indicator of adequate ventilation?
A. Normal pulse oximetry
B. Visible chest rise and fall
C. Clear breath sounds
D. Normal end-tidal CO₂
Correct Answer: B
4
