ATLS POST TEST EXAM 40 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS 2023
Question 1
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, what is the most appropriate next step?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Re-examine the chest 1
Perform an aortogram 0
Obtain a CT scan of the chest 0
Obtain arterial blood gas analysis 0
Perform transesophageal echocardiography 0
Question 2
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. Which of the following is most likely to confirm the
suspected diagnosis?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Angiography 0
Compartment pressures 0
Retrograde urethrogram 0
Doppler ultrasound studies 0
,Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Complete spine x-ray series 1
Question 3
Which of the following is TRUE regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient?
Score: 0 of
1
Your
Choice Correct? Score
answer
A patient with a torso gunshot wound and hypotension should receive crystalloid fluid
0
resuscitation until the blood pressure is normal
Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in
0
Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation
Massive transfusion is defined as transfusion of more than 10 units of packed red
0
blood cells and plasma within 24 hours
When tranexamic acid is administered by pre-hospital providers, a second dose is
0
required within 24 hours
Fluid resuscitation is far more important than bleeding control in trauma patients 0
Question 4
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, what is the most important initial step?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Secure the airway 1
Obtain a c-spine film 0
Support the circulation 0
Control scalp hemorrhage 0
Determine the GCS score 0
Question 5
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?
Score: 1 of
1
Your
Choice Correct? Score
answer
His pulse pressure will be widened. 0
His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal. 0
He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure. 0
An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L. 1
His systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated diastolic
0
pressure.
Question 6
How does the physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy have clinical significance in the management of the severely
injured, gravid woman?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
It reduces the need for blood transfusion. 0
It results in an elevated hematocrit. 0
It complicates the management of closed head injury. 0
It reduces the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation. 0
It increases the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension. 1
Question 7
What is the best assessment of fluid resuscitation in the adult burn patient?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr 1
Normalization of blood pressure 0
CORRECT ANSWERS 2023
Question 1
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, what is the most appropriate next step?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Re-examine the chest 1
Perform an aortogram 0
Obtain a CT scan of the chest 0
Obtain arterial blood gas analysis 0
Perform transesophageal echocardiography 0
Question 2
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. Which of the following is most likely to confirm the
suspected diagnosis?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Angiography 0
Compartment pressures 0
Retrograde urethrogram 0
Doppler ultrasound studies 0
,Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Complete spine x-ray series 1
Question 3
Which of the following is TRUE regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient?
Score: 0 of
1
Your
Choice Correct? Score
answer
A patient with a torso gunshot wound and hypotension should receive crystalloid fluid
0
resuscitation until the blood pressure is normal
Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in
0
Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation
Massive transfusion is defined as transfusion of more than 10 units of packed red
0
blood cells and plasma within 24 hours
When tranexamic acid is administered by pre-hospital providers, a second dose is
0
required within 24 hours
Fluid resuscitation is far more important than bleeding control in trauma patients 0
Question 4
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, what is the most important initial step?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Secure the airway 1
Obtain a c-spine film 0
Support the circulation 0
Control scalp hemorrhage 0
Determine the GCS score 0
Question 5
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?
Score: 1 of
1
Your
Choice Correct? Score
answer
His pulse pressure will be widened. 0
His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal. 0
He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure. 0
An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L. 1
His systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated diastolic
0
pressure.
Question 6
How does the physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy have clinical significance in the management of the severely
injured, gravid woman?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
It reduces the need for blood transfusion. 0
It results in an elevated hematocrit. 0
It complicates the management of closed head injury. 0
It reduces the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation. 0
It increases the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension. 1
Question 7
What is the best assessment of fluid resuscitation in the adult burn patient?
Score: 1 of
1
Your answer Choice Correct? Score
Urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr 1
Normalization of blood pressure 0
