American College of Surgeons (ACS) - Advanced Trauma
Life Support (ATLS)
ATLS Exam 2025-2026 - Complete Question Bank with 100%
Verified Answers
Latest Update | 10th Edition Guidelines | Trauma Resuscitation &
Management
Question 1
True or false? Although the mechanism of injury may be similar to those
for the younger population, data shows increased mortality with similar
severity of injury in older adults.
Answer: True
Question 2
In the elderly population, what is decreased physiological reserve?
Answer: Aging is characterized by impaired adaptive and homeostatic
mechanisms that cause an increased susceptibility to the stress of injury. Insults
tolerated by the younger population can lead to devastating results in elderly
patients.
Question 3
Pre-existing conditions that affect morbidity and mortality include:
Answer: Cirrhosis, coagulopathy, COPD, ischemic heart disease, DM
Question 4
What is the most common mechanism of injury in the elderly?
Answer: Fall. Nonfatal falls are common in women and fractures are common
in women who fall. Falls are the most common cause of TBI.
,Question 5
In the elderly population, what are risk factors for falls?
Answer: Advanced age, physical impairment, history of previous fall,
medication use, dementia, unsteady gait, and visual, cognitive impairment
Question 6
Most of elderly traffic fatalities occur in the daytime and on weekends and
typically involve other vehicles. Why?
Answer: Older people drive on more familiar roads and at lower speeds and
tend to drive during the day. Older people have slower reaction time, a larger
blind spot, limited cervical mobility, decreased hearing, and cognitive
impairment.
Question 7
True or False? Mortality associated with small to moderate sized burns in
older adults remains high.
Answer: True
Question 8
Spilled hot liquids on the leg, which in younger patients may re-
epithelialize due to an adequate number of hair follicles, will result in a full
thickness burn in older patients.
Answer: True
Question 9
Airway - patients may have dentures that may loosen or obstruct the
airway. If dentures are not obstructing the airway, leave them in place for
what?
,Answer: Bag mask ventilation, as it improves mask fitting.
Question 10
When performing rapid sequence intubation, the dose of benzos,
barbiturates, and other sedatives should be reduced to what percentage to
minimize the risk of cardiovascular depression?
Answer: 20-40%
Question 11
Functional changes in cardiac system include declining function, decreased
sensitivity to catecholamines, atherosclerosis of coronary vessels, increased
afterload, fixed heart rate (beta blockers). What does this result in?
Answer: This results in lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for
cardiac ischemia, elevated BP at baseline, and increased risk of dysrhythmias.
Question 12
Functional changes in pulmonary system include decreased elastic recoil,
reduced residual capacity, decreased gas exchange and decreased cough
reflex. What does this result in?
Answer: They are at increased risk for respiratory failure, increased risk for
pneumonia, and poor tolerance to rib fractures.
Question 13
Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal mass, decreased
GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH and aldosterone. What does this
result in?
Answer: Drug dosing for renal insufficiency, decreased ability to concentrate
urine, increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with hypovolemia.
, Question 14
Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body mass, osteoporosis,
changes in joints and cartilage, c-spine degenerative changes and loss of
skin elastin and subcutaneous fat. What does this result in?
Answer: Increased risk for fractures, decreased mobility, difficulty for oral
intubation, risk of skin injury, increased risk for hypothermia, challenges in
rehabilitation.
Question 15
Functional changes in Endocrine system include decreased production and
response to thyroxin and decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
What does this result in?
Answer: Occult hypothyroidism, relative hypercortisone states and increased
risk of infection.
Question 16
True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and cervical spine.
Patients can have multilevel degenerative changes affecting disk spaces and
posterior elements associated with severe central canal stenosis, cord
compression, and myelomalacia.
Answer: True
Question 17
In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary system, placing a
gauze between gums and cheek to achieve seal when using bag valve mask
ventilation is okay. In addition, because aging causes a suppressed heart
rate response to hypoxia...
Answer: Respiratory failure may present insidiously in older adults.
Question 18
Life Support (ATLS)
ATLS Exam 2025-2026 - Complete Question Bank with 100%
Verified Answers
Latest Update | 10th Edition Guidelines | Trauma Resuscitation &
Management
Question 1
True or false? Although the mechanism of injury may be similar to those
for the younger population, data shows increased mortality with similar
severity of injury in older adults.
Answer: True
Question 2
In the elderly population, what is decreased physiological reserve?
Answer: Aging is characterized by impaired adaptive and homeostatic
mechanisms that cause an increased susceptibility to the stress of injury. Insults
tolerated by the younger population can lead to devastating results in elderly
patients.
Question 3
Pre-existing conditions that affect morbidity and mortality include:
Answer: Cirrhosis, coagulopathy, COPD, ischemic heart disease, DM
Question 4
What is the most common mechanism of injury in the elderly?
Answer: Fall. Nonfatal falls are common in women and fractures are common
in women who fall. Falls are the most common cause of TBI.
,Question 5
In the elderly population, what are risk factors for falls?
Answer: Advanced age, physical impairment, history of previous fall,
medication use, dementia, unsteady gait, and visual, cognitive impairment
Question 6
Most of elderly traffic fatalities occur in the daytime and on weekends and
typically involve other vehicles. Why?
Answer: Older people drive on more familiar roads and at lower speeds and
tend to drive during the day. Older people have slower reaction time, a larger
blind spot, limited cervical mobility, decreased hearing, and cognitive
impairment.
Question 7
True or False? Mortality associated with small to moderate sized burns in
older adults remains high.
Answer: True
Question 8
Spilled hot liquids on the leg, which in younger patients may re-
epithelialize due to an adequate number of hair follicles, will result in a full
thickness burn in older patients.
Answer: True
Question 9
Airway - patients may have dentures that may loosen or obstruct the
airway. If dentures are not obstructing the airway, leave them in place for
what?
,Answer: Bag mask ventilation, as it improves mask fitting.
Question 10
When performing rapid sequence intubation, the dose of benzos,
barbiturates, and other sedatives should be reduced to what percentage to
minimize the risk of cardiovascular depression?
Answer: 20-40%
Question 11
Functional changes in cardiac system include declining function, decreased
sensitivity to catecholamines, atherosclerosis of coronary vessels, increased
afterload, fixed heart rate (beta blockers). What does this result in?
Answer: This results in lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for
cardiac ischemia, elevated BP at baseline, and increased risk of dysrhythmias.
Question 12
Functional changes in pulmonary system include decreased elastic recoil,
reduced residual capacity, decreased gas exchange and decreased cough
reflex. What does this result in?
Answer: They are at increased risk for respiratory failure, increased risk for
pneumonia, and poor tolerance to rib fractures.
Question 13
Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal mass, decreased
GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH and aldosterone. What does this
result in?
Answer: Drug dosing for renal insufficiency, decreased ability to concentrate
urine, increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with hypovolemia.
, Question 14
Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body mass, osteoporosis,
changes in joints and cartilage, c-spine degenerative changes and loss of
skin elastin and subcutaneous fat. What does this result in?
Answer: Increased risk for fractures, decreased mobility, difficulty for oral
intubation, risk of skin injury, increased risk for hypothermia, challenges in
rehabilitation.
Question 15
Functional changes in Endocrine system include decreased production and
response to thyroxin and decreased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
What does this result in?
Answer: Occult hypothyroidism, relative hypercortisone states and increased
risk of infection.
Question 16
True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and cervical spine.
Patients can have multilevel degenerative changes affecting disk spaces and
posterior elements associated with severe central canal stenosis, cord
compression, and myelomalacia.
Answer: True
Question 17
In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary system, placing a
gauze between gums and cheek to achieve seal when using bag valve mask
ventilation is okay. In addition, because aging causes a suppressed heart
rate response to hypoxia...
Answer: Respiratory failure may present insidiously in older adults.
Question 18
