PHTLS PRE TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in the unresponsive trauma patient? -
ANSWER tongue
a patient presents with a blunt trauma injury to the chest. on exam, he has absent breath sounds
on one side of his chest and respiratory distress. which additional sign would indicate that the
patient has a tension pneumothorax? - ANSWER tracheal deviation towards the side of the injury
you respond to a patient who has sustained a stab wound to the left upper thorax. she is barely
responsive, pale, and diaphoretic. which of the following is the most appropriate for transport? -
ANSWER scoop stretcher
the most common type of shock resulting from trauma is? - ANSWER hemorrhagic
When using a selective spinal immobilization protocol, which of the following findings indicate
the need for immobilization? - ANSWER an associated femoral shaft fracture with severe pain
EMS responds for a patient involved in a motorcycle vs. car collision. The patient is
unresponsive with no movement of lower extremities and loss of temperature control below the
T10. Which type of shock is the patient experiencing? - ANSWER neurogenic
in addition to glucose, what is required to maintain the metabolic processess of life and energy
production? - ANSWER oxygen
In a multi-system trauma patient, what is considered the best method for confirming proper
placement of an endotracheal tube? - ANSWER waveform capnography
the most appropriate airway maneuver in the initial management of a trauma patient is which of
the following? - ANSWER trauma jaw thrust
patient with suspected traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are susceptible to secondary injuries which
are typically preventable. in addition to hypoxia and hypotension which of the following can also
decrease cerebral perfusion? - ANSWER inadvertent or excess hyperventilation
which of the following patients will compensate for blood loss the longest? - ANSWER 6-year
old male
EMS responds to an adult barista with partial thickness burns to the abdomen and right leg,
sustained from a cooking accident. Initial treatment of this injury would include: - ANSWER
cover burned area with dry sterile dressings
, you are called to treat a patient who was knocked unconscious when he slipped and fell on a wet
floor, striking his head. it is now several hours later. he is awake but confused, does not recall the
incident, and is vomiting with a headache. which of the following injuries is most likely? -
ANSWER concussion
falls are the most common cause of death in trauma patients over
________ years of age - ANSWER 75
the secondary survery should be accomplished - ANSWER when time and situation allow
hypoperfusion will affect which of the following organs first? - ANSWER brain
hemostatic agents should be used for excessive bleeding when direct pressure alone does not
work. the proper way to use most hemostatic agents is which of the following? - ANSWER
placing the agent properly into the wound and holding direct pressure
what is the most likely source of bleeding in a patient with signs of shock and no obvious injury
- ANSWER intra-abdominal injury
Units responding to a motor vehicle accident on the highway should consider which of the
following as part of their pre-arrival assessment? - ANSWER weather conditions
when verifying ET tube placement on a perfusing patient, the "gold standard" of monitoring is
considered to be ? - ANSWER waveform capnography
Hypotension due to a spinal cord injury is a result of what physiologic mechanism? - ANSWER
loss of sympathetic tone causing vasodilation
excessive fluid resuscitation of the trauma patient can result in which of the following? -
ANSWER worsening coagulopathy
a 38 year old male sustains a large wound to his right thigh while at work. which of the
following actions is the most important initial step? - ANSWER hemorrhage control
hyperventilation of a patient with suspected traumatic brain injury should occur when? -
ANSWER when signs of impending brain herniation are present
you respond to a local bar for an unconscious person. on arrival, you are met by a police officer
who reports that one of their "regular alcoholics" was found in the alley behind the bar. on exam,
you note the smell of an alcoholic beverage as well as the following: patient flexes his arms to
painful stimuli, has bilateral fixed and dilated pupils, irregular respirations at 12 breaths per
minute and BP of 210/100. what condition do you suspect? - ANSWER subdural hematoma
which of the following information is assessed during the secondary survey? - ANSWER vital
signs
ANSWERS
What is the most common cause of airway obstruction in the unresponsive trauma patient? -
ANSWER tongue
a patient presents with a blunt trauma injury to the chest. on exam, he has absent breath sounds
on one side of his chest and respiratory distress. which additional sign would indicate that the
patient has a tension pneumothorax? - ANSWER tracheal deviation towards the side of the injury
you respond to a patient who has sustained a stab wound to the left upper thorax. she is barely
responsive, pale, and diaphoretic. which of the following is the most appropriate for transport? -
ANSWER scoop stretcher
the most common type of shock resulting from trauma is? - ANSWER hemorrhagic
When using a selective spinal immobilization protocol, which of the following findings indicate
the need for immobilization? - ANSWER an associated femoral shaft fracture with severe pain
EMS responds for a patient involved in a motorcycle vs. car collision. The patient is
unresponsive with no movement of lower extremities and loss of temperature control below the
T10. Which type of shock is the patient experiencing? - ANSWER neurogenic
in addition to glucose, what is required to maintain the metabolic processess of life and energy
production? - ANSWER oxygen
In a multi-system trauma patient, what is considered the best method for confirming proper
placement of an endotracheal tube? - ANSWER waveform capnography
the most appropriate airway maneuver in the initial management of a trauma patient is which of
the following? - ANSWER trauma jaw thrust
patient with suspected traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are susceptible to secondary injuries which
are typically preventable. in addition to hypoxia and hypotension which of the following can also
decrease cerebral perfusion? - ANSWER inadvertent or excess hyperventilation
which of the following patients will compensate for blood loss the longest? - ANSWER 6-year
old male
EMS responds to an adult barista with partial thickness burns to the abdomen and right leg,
sustained from a cooking accident. Initial treatment of this injury would include: - ANSWER
cover burned area with dry sterile dressings
, you are called to treat a patient who was knocked unconscious when he slipped and fell on a wet
floor, striking his head. it is now several hours later. he is awake but confused, does not recall the
incident, and is vomiting with a headache. which of the following injuries is most likely? -
ANSWER concussion
falls are the most common cause of death in trauma patients over
________ years of age - ANSWER 75
the secondary survery should be accomplished - ANSWER when time and situation allow
hypoperfusion will affect which of the following organs first? - ANSWER brain
hemostatic agents should be used for excessive bleeding when direct pressure alone does not
work. the proper way to use most hemostatic agents is which of the following? - ANSWER
placing the agent properly into the wound and holding direct pressure
what is the most likely source of bleeding in a patient with signs of shock and no obvious injury
- ANSWER intra-abdominal injury
Units responding to a motor vehicle accident on the highway should consider which of the
following as part of their pre-arrival assessment? - ANSWER weather conditions
when verifying ET tube placement on a perfusing patient, the "gold standard" of monitoring is
considered to be ? - ANSWER waveform capnography
Hypotension due to a spinal cord injury is a result of what physiologic mechanism? - ANSWER
loss of sympathetic tone causing vasodilation
excessive fluid resuscitation of the trauma patient can result in which of the following? -
ANSWER worsening coagulopathy
a 38 year old male sustains a large wound to his right thigh while at work. which of the
following actions is the most important initial step? - ANSWER hemorrhage control
hyperventilation of a patient with suspected traumatic brain injury should occur when? -
ANSWER when signs of impending brain herniation are present
you respond to a local bar for an unconscious person. on arrival, you are met by a police officer
who reports that one of their "regular alcoholics" was found in the alley behind the bar. on exam,
you note the smell of an alcoholic beverage as well as the following: patient flexes his arms to
painful stimuli, has bilateral fixed and dilated pupils, irregular respirations at 12 breaths per
minute and BP of 210/100. what condition do you suspect? - ANSWER subdural hematoma
which of the following information is assessed during the secondary survey? - ANSWER vital
signs
