ATLS Geriatric Trauma Resuscitation
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
Pdf
1.
An 82-year-old patient is brought to the trauma bay after a motor vehicle collision.
Which age-related change most increases the risk of occult shock?
A. Increased total body water
B. Increased cardiac reserve
C. Reduced cardiovascular reserve
D. Increased renal function
Answer: Reduced cardiovascular reserve
Rationale: Older adults have limited cardiovascular reserve and may not
develop the expected tachycardic response to hemorrhage, making significant
shock easier to miss.
2.
An elderly trauma patient has a heart rate of 78/min, blood pressure of 104/68
mm Hg, and cool extremities after a fall. What is the most appropriate
interpretation?
,A. Normal physiology for age
B. Possible compensated shock requiring further evaluation
C. Definitive evidence that no hemorrhage exists
D. Isolated hypertension
Answer: Possible compensated shock requiring further evaluation
Rationale: Geriatric patients may maintain a deceptively normal heart rate and
blood pressure despite significant blood loss. Clinical perfusion and the overall
trauma assessment are essential.
3.
Which medication class can blunt the expected tachycardic response to
hemorrhage in an older trauma patient?
A. Proton pump inhibitors
B. Calcium supplements
C. Antihistamines
D. Beta-adrenergic blockers
Answer: Beta-adrenergic blockers
Rationale: Beta-blockers can limit chronotropic responses, making heart rate a
less reliable indicator of hemorrhagic shock in older adults.
4.
An 80-year-old patient taking warfarin sustains a head injury. Which concern is
particularly important?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Delayed or progressive intracranial hemorrhage
C. Acute appendicitis
D. Hyperthyroidism
Answer: Delayed or progressive intracranial hemorrhage
,Rationale: Anticoagulation substantially increases the risk and potential severity
of traumatic intracranial bleeding. Reassessment and appropriate imaging are
important even when the initial examination is reassuring.
5.
Which mechanism most commonly contributes to serious injury after a low-
energy fall in an older adult?
A. Increased bone density
B. Osteoporosis and reduced bone strength
C. Increased muscle mass
D. Increased ligament elasticity
Answer: Osteoporosis and reduced bone strength
Rationale: Age-related loss of bone density makes fractures possible after
relatively minor mechanisms that would be unlikely to cause major injury in
younger adults.
6.
A geriatric trauma patient becomes hypotensive after receiving several liters of
crystalloid. What complication should be considered?
A. Improved cardiac performance
B. Volume overload and cardiac decompensation
C. Increased bone density
D. Reduced pulmonary edema risk
Answer: Volume overload and cardiac decompensation
Rationale: Older patients frequently have limited cardiac and renal reserve,
increasing their susceptibility to pulmonary edema and other complications from
excessive crystalloid administration.
7.
Which finding may be an early indicator of deterioration in an elderly trauma
patient?
, A. Increased appetite
B. New confusion or altered mental status
C. Increased hearing acuity
D. Improved mobility
Answer: New confusion or altered mental status
Rationale: Acute mental-status change can reflect hypoperfusion, hypoxia,
infection, medication effects, or intracranial injury and should be treated as a
significant clinical change.
8.
Which physiologic change is common with aging?
A. Increased pulmonary compliance
B. Increased glomerular filtration rate
C. Reduced pulmonary reserve
D. Increased maximal oxygen consumption
Answer: Reduced pulmonary reserve
Rationale: Aging reduces pulmonary reserve and increases susceptibility to
hypoxemia and respiratory complications following trauma.
9.
An older adult with blunt chest trauma has increasing respiratory distress. Which
injury may be particularly poorly tolerated?
A. Minor skin abrasion
B. Multiple rib fractures
C. Small superficial hematoma
D. Isolated finger laceration
Answer: Multiple rib fractures
Rationale: Rib fractures can cause substantial pain, impaired ventilation,
atelectasis, and pneumonia in older adults because pulmonary reserve is
reduced.
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
1.
An 82-year-old patient is brought to the trauma bay after a motor vehicle collision.
Which age-related change most increases the risk of occult shock?
A. Increased total body water
B. Increased cardiac reserve
C. Reduced cardiovascular reserve
D. Increased renal function
Answer: Reduced cardiovascular reserve
Rationale: Older adults have limited cardiovascular reserve and may not
develop the expected tachycardic response to hemorrhage, making significant
shock easier to miss.
2.
An elderly trauma patient has a heart rate of 78/min, blood pressure of 104/68
mm Hg, and cool extremities after a fall. What is the most appropriate
interpretation?
,A. Normal physiology for age
B. Possible compensated shock requiring further evaluation
C. Definitive evidence that no hemorrhage exists
D. Isolated hypertension
Answer: Possible compensated shock requiring further evaluation
Rationale: Geriatric patients may maintain a deceptively normal heart rate and
blood pressure despite significant blood loss. Clinical perfusion and the overall
trauma assessment are essential.
3.
Which medication class can blunt the expected tachycardic response to
hemorrhage in an older trauma patient?
A. Proton pump inhibitors
B. Calcium supplements
C. Antihistamines
D. Beta-adrenergic blockers
Answer: Beta-adrenergic blockers
Rationale: Beta-blockers can limit chronotropic responses, making heart rate a
less reliable indicator of hemorrhagic shock in older adults.
4.
An 80-year-old patient taking warfarin sustains a head injury. Which concern is
particularly important?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Delayed or progressive intracranial hemorrhage
C. Acute appendicitis
D. Hyperthyroidism
Answer: Delayed or progressive intracranial hemorrhage
,Rationale: Anticoagulation substantially increases the risk and potential severity
of traumatic intracranial bleeding. Reassessment and appropriate imaging are
important even when the initial examination is reassuring.
5.
Which mechanism most commonly contributes to serious injury after a low-
energy fall in an older adult?
A. Increased bone density
B. Osteoporosis and reduced bone strength
C. Increased muscle mass
D. Increased ligament elasticity
Answer: Osteoporosis and reduced bone strength
Rationale: Age-related loss of bone density makes fractures possible after
relatively minor mechanisms that would be unlikely to cause major injury in
younger adults.
6.
A geriatric trauma patient becomes hypotensive after receiving several liters of
crystalloid. What complication should be considered?
A. Improved cardiac performance
B. Volume overload and cardiac decompensation
C. Increased bone density
D. Reduced pulmonary edema risk
Answer: Volume overload and cardiac decompensation
Rationale: Older patients frequently have limited cardiac and renal reserve,
increasing their susceptibility to pulmonary edema and other complications from
excessive crystalloid administration.
7.
Which finding may be an early indicator of deterioration in an elderly trauma
patient?
, A. Increased appetite
B. New confusion or altered mental status
C. Increased hearing acuity
D. Improved mobility
Answer: New confusion or altered mental status
Rationale: Acute mental-status change can reflect hypoperfusion, hypoxia,
infection, medication effects, or intracranial injury and should be treated as a
significant clinical change.
8.
Which physiologic change is common with aging?
A. Increased pulmonary compliance
B. Increased glomerular filtration rate
C. Reduced pulmonary reserve
D. Increased maximal oxygen consumption
Answer: Reduced pulmonary reserve
Rationale: Aging reduces pulmonary reserve and increases susceptibility to
hypoxemia and respiratory complications following trauma.
9.
An older adult with blunt chest trauma has increasing respiratory distress. Which
injury may be particularly poorly tolerated?
A. Minor skin abrasion
B. Multiple rib fractures
C. Small superficial hematoma
D. Isolated finger laceration
Answer: Multiple rib fractures
Rationale: Rib fractures can cause substantial pain, impaired ventilation,
atelectasis, and pneumonia in older adults because pulmonary reserve is
reduced.
