ATLS PRACTICE EXAM
1. What treatment is NOT indicated in the routine management of the
patient with a head injury?
A. Administration of 100% oxygen
B. Fluid resuscitation to a BP of 110-120 systolic if the patient is
hypotensive
C. Hyperventilating to obtain an EtCO2 of less than 30
D. Stabilization of the cervical spine - C. Hyperventilating to obtain
an EtCO2 of less than 30
2. Which of the following sets of vital signs is most compatible with a
diagnosis of isolated head injury with increasing intracranial pressure?
A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
B. BP 80/60, pulse 130/min
C. BP 80/60, pulse 50/min
D. BP 170/100, pulse 130/min - A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
3. Which one of the following is a reason to interrupt the initial
assessment?
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Multiple open (compound) fractures
C. Severe head injury with brain tissue visible
D. Severe shock - A. Cardiac arrest
4. What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
A. Proximal tibia
B. Distal humerus
C. Proximal femur
D. Distal fibula - A. Proximal tibia
5. A 34-year-old man has a gunshot wound to the right groin area. Arterial
bleeding, which cannot be controlled with direct pressure, is coming
from the wound. The patient appears confused, diaphoretic, and has
, weak peripheral pulses. What is the appropriate fluid resuscitation for
this patient?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given
enough fluid to maintain peripheral pulses
C. Intravenous fluid at a wide-open rate; give at least two liters,
then reassess patient
D. No intravenous access should be established in this situation - B.
Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given
enough fluid to maintain peripheral pulses
6. Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic
hemorrhage, EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - D. Narrowed pulse pressure
7. Among the following, what is the most common cause of preventable
trauma death in the injured adult patient?
A. Airway obstruction
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Hemorrhagic shock
D. Spinal injury - C. Hemorrhagic shock
8. Which of the following is most typical of early, neurogenic shock?
A. Increased pulse, clammy skin
B. Increased pulse, warm and dry skin
C. Decreased pulse, clammy skin
D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry skin - D. Decreased pulse, warm
and dry skin (skin is warm due to vasodilation)
9. Which of the following is an acceptable location to insert a needle
when decompressing a tension pneumothorax?
A. Directly under the bottom of the second rib, midclavicular line
B. Directly under the bottom of the third rib, midclavicular line
C. Directly over the top of the fourth rib, midaxillary line
D. Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line - D.
Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line
1. What treatment is NOT indicated in the routine management of the
patient with a head injury?
A. Administration of 100% oxygen
B. Fluid resuscitation to a BP of 110-120 systolic if the patient is
hypotensive
C. Hyperventilating to obtain an EtCO2 of less than 30
D. Stabilization of the cervical spine - C. Hyperventilating to obtain
an EtCO2 of less than 30
2. Which of the following sets of vital signs is most compatible with a
diagnosis of isolated head injury with increasing intracranial pressure?
A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
B. BP 80/60, pulse 130/min
C. BP 80/60, pulse 50/min
D. BP 170/100, pulse 130/min - A. BP 170/100, pulse 50/min
3. Which one of the following is a reason to interrupt the initial
assessment?
A. Cardiac arrest
B. Multiple open (compound) fractures
C. Severe head injury with brain tissue visible
D. Severe shock - A. Cardiac arrest
4. What site is the first choice for intraosseous infusion?
A. Proximal tibia
B. Distal humerus
C. Proximal femur
D. Distal fibula - A. Proximal tibia
5. A 34-year-old man has a gunshot wound to the right groin area. Arterial
bleeding, which cannot be controlled with direct pressure, is coming
from the wound. The patient appears confused, diaphoretic, and has
, weak peripheral pulses. What is the appropriate fluid resuscitation for
this patient?
A. Intravenous fluid at a "keep open" rate
B. Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given
enough fluid to maintain peripheral pulses
C. Intravenous fluid at a wide-open rate; give at least two liters,
then reassess patient
D. No intravenous access should be established in this situation - B.
Apply a hemostatic agent and gain intravenous access given
enough fluid to maintain peripheral pulses
6. Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic
hemorrhage, EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - D. Narrowed pulse pressure
7. Among the following, what is the most common cause of preventable
trauma death in the injured adult patient?
A. Airway obstruction
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Hemorrhagic shock
D. Spinal injury - C. Hemorrhagic shock
8. Which of the following is most typical of early, neurogenic shock?
A. Increased pulse, clammy skin
B. Increased pulse, warm and dry skin
C. Decreased pulse, clammy skin
D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry skin - D. Decreased pulse, warm
and dry skin (skin is warm due to vasodilation)
9. Which of the following is an acceptable location to insert a needle
when decompressing a tension pneumothorax?
A. Directly under the bottom of the second rib, midclavicular line
B. Directly under the bottom of the third rib, midclavicular line
C. Directly over the top of the fourth rib, midaxillary line
D. Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line - D.
Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line
