ATLS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Regarding airway compromise, which of the following is NOT a sign/symptom of this
emergency?
Change in voice tone.
Stridor.
Decreased pulse pressure.
Dyspnea and agitation.
Tachypnea. - Answer-Decreased pulse pressure.
A 26 year • old woman is brought to the Emergency
Department after being involved in a motor vehicle crash. She
is 30 weeks pregnant. She was restrained with a lap and
shoulder belt, and an airbag deployed. Which one of the
following statements best describes the risk of injury?:
The deployment of the airbag increases the risk of fetal loss.
The use of seatbelts is associated with increased risk of maternal death.
The mechanism of injury suggests the need for emergency caesarean section due to
the risk of impending abruptio placentae.
The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints.
The deployment of the airbag increases the risk of maternal abdominal injury. - Answer-
The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints.
Regarding cardiac tamponade, which of the following statements is CORRECT?:
Is definitively managed by needle pericardiocentesis.
Is most common with blunt thoracic trauma and anterior rib fractures.
Is easily diagnosed by discovery of Beck's triad in the emergency department.
Is indicated by Kussmaul breathing.
Requires surgical intervention. - Answer-Requires surgical intervention.
, A 24 year - old man is brought to the Emergency Department after falling from a bull. He
is immobilized on a long spine board with a hard collar and blocks. Which of the
following statements is CORRECT regarding cervical spine xrays:
Will show cervical spine injury in more than 20% of these patients.
Will exclude cervical spine injury if no abnormalities are found on the xrays.
Are not needed if she is awake, alert, neurologically normal, and has no neck pain or
midline tenderness.
Should be performed before addressing potential breathing or circulatory problems.
May show atlantooccipital dislocation if the Power's ratio is less than 1. - Answer-Are
not needed if she is awake, alert, neurologically normal, and has no neck pain or
midline tenderness.
Regarding injuries of solid abdominal organs, which is the most specific test for their
evaluation?:
Abdominal x-rays.
Abdominal ultrasonography.
Diagnostic peritoneal lavage.
Frequent abdominal examinations.
CT of abdomen and pelvis. - Answer-CT of abdomen and pelvis.
A 35 year-old female obese patient, agitated with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8
requires to be transferred to have a brain CT Scan. Before transferring to the scanner,
which is the main measure you should take care of?:
Give more sedative drugs.
Insert a multilumen esophageal airway.
Insert a definitive airway.
Request a lateral cervical spine film.
Insert a nasogastric tube. - Answer-Insert a definitive airway.
A 37 y/o construction worker is brought to the ED after falling from a 9 meter (30 feet)
scaffolding. Heart rate 140, blood pressure 96/60 mm Hg, and RR 36. He is complaining
of lower abdominal and lower limb pain, and has obvious deformity of both lower legs
with bilateral open tibial fractures.
Which one of the following statements concerning this patient is CORRECT?:
Pelvic injury can be ruled out based on the mechanism of injury.
Blood loss from the lower limbs is the most likely cause of his hypotension.
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Regarding airway compromise, which of the following is NOT a sign/symptom of this
emergency?
Change in voice tone.
Stridor.
Decreased pulse pressure.
Dyspnea and agitation.
Tachypnea. - Answer-Decreased pulse pressure.
A 26 year • old woman is brought to the Emergency
Department after being involved in a motor vehicle crash. She
is 30 weeks pregnant. She was restrained with a lap and
shoulder belt, and an airbag deployed. Which one of the
following statements best describes the risk of injury?:
The deployment of the airbag increases the risk of fetal loss.
The use of seatbelts is associated with increased risk of maternal death.
The mechanism of injury suggests the need for emergency caesarean section due to
the risk of impending abruptio placentae.
The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints.
The deployment of the airbag increases the risk of maternal abdominal injury. - Answer-
The risk of premature fetal delivery and death is reduced by the use of restraints.
Regarding cardiac tamponade, which of the following statements is CORRECT?:
Is definitively managed by needle pericardiocentesis.
Is most common with blunt thoracic trauma and anterior rib fractures.
Is easily diagnosed by discovery of Beck's triad in the emergency department.
Is indicated by Kussmaul breathing.
Requires surgical intervention. - Answer-Requires surgical intervention.
, A 24 year - old man is brought to the Emergency Department after falling from a bull. He
is immobilized on a long spine board with a hard collar and blocks. Which of the
following statements is CORRECT regarding cervical spine xrays:
Will show cervical spine injury in more than 20% of these patients.
Will exclude cervical spine injury if no abnormalities are found on the xrays.
Are not needed if she is awake, alert, neurologically normal, and has no neck pain or
midline tenderness.
Should be performed before addressing potential breathing or circulatory problems.
May show atlantooccipital dislocation if the Power's ratio is less than 1. - Answer-Are
not needed if she is awake, alert, neurologically normal, and has no neck pain or
midline tenderness.
Regarding injuries of solid abdominal organs, which is the most specific test for their
evaluation?:
Abdominal x-rays.
Abdominal ultrasonography.
Diagnostic peritoneal lavage.
Frequent abdominal examinations.
CT of abdomen and pelvis. - Answer-CT of abdomen and pelvis.
A 35 year-old female obese patient, agitated with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8
requires to be transferred to have a brain CT Scan. Before transferring to the scanner,
which is the main measure you should take care of?:
Give more sedative drugs.
Insert a multilumen esophageal airway.
Insert a definitive airway.
Request a lateral cervical spine film.
Insert a nasogastric tube. - Answer-Insert a definitive airway.
A 37 y/o construction worker is brought to the ED after falling from a 9 meter (30 feet)
scaffolding. Heart rate 140, blood pressure 96/60 mm Hg, and RR 36. He is complaining
of lower abdominal and lower limb pain, and has obvious deformity of both lower legs
with bilateral open tibial fractures.
Which one of the following statements concerning this patient is CORRECT?:
Pelvic injury can be ruled out based on the mechanism of injury.
Blood loss from the lower limbs is the most likely cause of his hypotension.
