Advanced Traumatic Life Support Practice
Questions with Verified Correct Answers
what is advanced traumatic life support (ATLS)?
the way of assessing and resuscitating a patient after a traumatic event that allows the health
care team to sequentially find the most concerning traumatic injuries in a timely fashion
what is essential during ATLS?
teamwork
what is included in the primary survey?
- X (for stopping massive exsanguination)
- airway
- breathing
- circulation
- disability (neurologic status)
- exposure/environment
what is included in the primary survey with simultaneous resuscitation?
- airway/restriction of cervical spine motion
- breathing/ventilation
- circulation and hemorrhage control
- disability (assessemnt of neurologic status)
- exposure/environmental control
what is the main concern when evaluating the airway?
if the patient needs to be intubated
, what are potential features that can warrant a trauma patient to have difficulty
maintaining their airway?
facial trauma or tracheal deviation
the airway should be frequently _________ due to potential changes?
re-evaluated
is the airway intact if a patient is speaking?
typically yes, but NEED to check the mouth, especially if coming from a smokey site
how should a patient be held if there are concerns for a c-spine injury?
- hold shoulders, lock head in place with your forearms
- head/neck/shoulders need to move as one unit
patients with a laryngectomy are what kind of breathers?
obligate neck breathers
what can be done if you need to obtain an airway in a patient with a laryngectomy?
can put a pediatric BVM on stoma or put ET tube down stoma
what are potential features to consider in the breathing and circulation assessment of a
trauma patient?
- if the patient is breathing well
- if the lungs are clear
- is the chest expanding equally
- are there any bruises, signs of punctures, or subcutaneous emphysema present
what is being evaluated in the breathing and ventilation assessment?
Questions with Verified Correct Answers
what is advanced traumatic life support (ATLS)?
the way of assessing and resuscitating a patient after a traumatic event that allows the health
care team to sequentially find the most concerning traumatic injuries in a timely fashion
what is essential during ATLS?
teamwork
what is included in the primary survey?
- X (for stopping massive exsanguination)
- airway
- breathing
- circulation
- disability (neurologic status)
- exposure/environment
what is included in the primary survey with simultaneous resuscitation?
- airway/restriction of cervical spine motion
- breathing/ventilation
- circulation and hemorrhage control
- disability (assessemnt of neurologic status)
- exposure/environmental control
what is the main concern when evaluating the airway?
if the patient needs to be intubated
, what are potential features that can warrant a trauma patient to have difficulty
maintaining their airway?
facial trauma or tracheal deviation
the airway should be frequently _________ due to potential changes?
re-evaluated
is the airway intact if a patient is speaking?
typically yes, but NEED to check the mouth, especially if coming from a smokey site
how should a patient be held if there are concerns for a c-spine injury?
- hold shoulders, lock head in place with your forearms
- head/neck/shoulders need to move as one unit
patients with a laryngectomy are what kind of breathers?
obligate neck breathers
what can be done if you need to obtain an airway in a patient with a laryngectomy?
can put a pediatric BVM on stoma or put ET tube down stoma
what are potential features to consider in the breathing and circulation assessment of a
trauma patient?
- if the patient is breathing well
- if the lungs are clear
- is the chest expanding equally
- are there any bruises, signs of punctures, or subcutaneous emphysema present
what is being evaluated in the breathing and ventilation assessment?
