ATLS
ATLS POST TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
Which of the following is the recommended Method for
treatment frostbite?
A. Vasodilators
B. Anticigulants
C. Warm (40 degrees) water
D. Padding and elevation
E. Application of heat from a hairdryer - correct answer C. Warm (40
degrees) water
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of
hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
,ATLS
A. Priapism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragmatic breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them - correct answer D.
Presence of deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of
muscle toe (flaccidty) and loss of reflexes.
The primary indication for transferring A patient to a higher
level trauma center is:
A. Unavailibility of surgeon or operating staff
B. Multiple system injuries, including severe head injury
C. Resource limitations as determined by the transferring doctor
D. Resource limitations as determined by the hospital
administration
E. Widened mediastinum on chest x-ray following blunt trauma -
correct answer C. Resource limitations as determined by the
transferring doctor
A young man sustains a rifle wound to the mid-abdomen. He is
brought promptly to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is
cool and diaphoretic, and his systolic blood pressure is
58mmHg. Warmed crystalloid fluids are initiated without
,ATLS
improvement in his vital signs. The next, most appropriate, step
is to perform:
A. a laparotomy
B. An abdominal CT-scan
C. Diagnostic laparoscopy
D. Abdominal ultrasonography
E. A diagnostic peritoneal lavage - correct answer A. Laparotomy
because of hemodynamic abnormality
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his
overturned tractor for several hours before medical assistance
arrives. He is awake and alert until just before arriving in the ED.
He is now unconscious and responds only to painful stimuli by
moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically
reactive to light. Prehospital personnel indicate that they have
not seen the patient move either of his lower extremities. On
examination in the ED, no movement of his lower extremities
are detected, even in response to painful stimuli. The most
likely cause for this finding is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
, ATLS
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome - correct answer E. Bilateral
compartment syndrome
A 6-year-o boy is struck by an automobile and brought to the
ED. He is lethargic, but withdraws purposefully from painful
stimuli. His blood pressure is 90mmHg systolic, heart rate 140
beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 36 breaths per
minute. The preferred route of venous access in this patient is:
A. Percutaneous femoral vein cannulation
B. Cutdown on the saphenous vein at the ankle
C. Intraosseous catheter placement in the proximal tibia
D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremities
E. Central venous access via the subclavian or internal jugular
vein - correct answer D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper
extremities
A young man sustains a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is
brought promptly to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is
cool and diaphoretic, and he is confused. His pulse is thready
and his femoral pulse is only weakly palpable. The definitive
treatment in managing this patient is to:
A. Administer O-negative blood
B. Apply external warming devices
ATLS POST TEST 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
Which of the following is the recommended Method for
treatment frostbite?
A. Vasodilators
B. Anticigulants
C. Warm (40 degrees) water
D. Padding and elevation
E. Application of heat from a hairdryer - correct answer C. Warm (40
degrees) water
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of
hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
,ATLS
A. Priapism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragmatic breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them - correct answer D.
Presence of deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of
muscle toe (flaccidty) and loss of reflexes.
The primary indication for transferring A patient to a higher
level trauma center is:
A. Unavailibility of surgeon or operating staff
B. Multiple system injuries, including severe head injury
C. Resource limitations as determined by the transferring doctor
D. Resource limitations as determined by the hospital
administration
E. Widened mediastinum on chest x-ray following blunt trauma -
correct answer C. Resource limitations as determined by the
transferring doctor
A young man sustains a rifle wound to the mid-abdomen. He is
brought promptly to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is
cool and diaphoretic, and his systolic blood pressure is
58mmHg. Warmed crystalloid fluids are initiated without
,ATLS
improvement in his vital signs. The next, most appropriate, step
is to perform:
A. a laparotomy
B. An abdominal CT-scan
C. Diagnostic laparoscopy
D. Abdominal ultrasonography
E. A diagnostic peritoneal lavage - correct answer A. Laparotomy
because of hemodynamic abnormality
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his
overturned tractor for several hours before medical assistance
arrives. He is awake and alert until just before arriving in the ED.
He is now unconscious and responds only to painful stimuli by
moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically
reactive to light. Prehospital personnel indicate that they have
not seen the patient move either of his lower extremities. On
examination in the ED, no movement of his lower extremities
are detected, even in response to painful stimuli. The most
likely cause for this finding is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
, ATLS
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome - correct answer E. Bilateral
compartment syndrome
A 6-year-o boy is struck by an automobile and brought to the
ED. He is lethargic, but withdraws purposefully from painful
stimuli. His blood pressure is 90mmHg systolic, heart rate 140
beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 36 breaths per
minute. The preferred route of venous access in this patient is:
A. Percutaneous femoral vein cannulation
B. Cutdown on the saphenous vein at the ankle
C. Intraosseous catheter placement in the proximal tibia
D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremities
E. Central venous access via the subclavian or internal jugular
vein - correct answer D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper
extremities
A young man sustains a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is
brought promptly to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is
cool and diaphoretic, and he is confused. His pulse is thready
and his femoral pulse is only weakly palpable. The definitive
treatment in managing this patient is to:
A. Administer O-negative blood
B. Apply external warming devices
