ATLS Pre-test Questions with Complete Solutions (2023)

A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial fluid resuscitation his blood pressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute. A tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a small amount of blood and no air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is: Correct Answer - *Re-examine the chest* - Perform an aortogram - Obtain a CT scan of the chest - Obtain ABG analysis - Transesophageal echocardiography A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is alert, vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses are strong and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed by: Correct Answer - complete spine x-ray series Which of the following is true regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? Correct Answer - A patient with a torso gunshot wound and hypotension should receive crystalloid fluid resuscitation until the blood pressure is normal -* Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation* - Massive transfusion is defined as transfusion of more than 10 units of packed red blood cells and plasma within 24 hours - When tranexamic acid is administered by pre-hospital providers, a second dose is required within 24 hours - Fluid resuscitation is far more important than bleeding control in trauma patient In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial step is to: Correct Answer - Secure the airway A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated acute blood loss of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements applies to this patient? Correct Answer - His pulse pressure will be widened. - His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal. xxx - He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure. - *An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L.* - His systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated diastolic pressure.