ATLS ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT EXAM |
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+
| VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION 2025 (JUST
RELEASED)
A 32-year-old man right leg is trapped beneath his overturned car for nearly
2 hours before he is extricated. On arrival in the ED, his right lower
extremity is cool, mottled, insensate, and motionless. Despite normal vital
signs, pulses cannot be palpated inferior to the femoral artery, and the
muscles of the lower extremity are firm and hard. During initial
management of this patient, which of the following is most likely to improve
chances for limb salvage?
A. Apply skeletal traction
B. Administering anticoagulant drugs
C. Adminstering thrombolytic therapy
D. Perform right lower extremity fasciotomy
E. Immediately transferring the patient to a trauma center. ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------D. Perform right lower extremity
fasciotomy
A patient arrives in the ED after being beaten about the head and face with
a wooden club. He is comatose and has a palpable depressed skull
fracture. His face is swollen and ecchymotic. He has gurgling respirations
and vomitus on his face and clothing. The most appropriate step after
providing supplemental oxygen and elevating his jaw is to:
A. Request a CT-scan
B. Insert a gastric tube
C. Suction of the oropharynx
D. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
E. Ventilate the patient with a bag-mask ---------CORRECT ANSWER--------
---------C. Suction of the oropharynx
,An 8 year old boy falls 4,5meters from a tree and is brought to the ED by
his familiy. His vital signs are normal, but he complains of left upper
quadrant pain. An abdominal CT scan reveals a moderately severe
laceration of the spleen. The receiving institution does not have 24 hour a
day operating room capabilities. The most appropriate management of this
patient would be:
A. Type and crossmatch for blood
B. Request consultation of a pediatrician
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
E. Prepare the patient for surgery the next day ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------D. Admit the patient to the ICU
A construction worker falls from a scaffold and is transferred to the ED. His
HR is 124 bpm and BP is 85/60mmHg. He complains of lower abdominal
pain. After assessing the airway and chest, immobilizing the c-spine and
initiating fluid resuscitation, the next step is to perform
A. FAST
B. Detailed neurological exam
C. Rectal exam
D. Cervical c-spine x-ray
E. Urethral catheterization. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------A.
FAST
A 22 year old male sustains a shotgun wound to the left shoulder and chest
at close range. His BP is 80/40mmHg and his HR is 130bpm. After 2 liters
of crystalloid solution are rapidly infused, his BP increases to 122/84, and
HR decreases to 100bpm. He is tachypneic with RR of 28. On physical
examination, his breath sounds are decreased at the left upper chest with
dullness on percussion. A large caliber (36 french) tube thoracostomy is
inserted in the fifth intercostal space with the return of 200ml of blood and
no air leak. The most appropriate next step is to:
A. insert a foley catheter
B. Begin to transfuse o-negative blood
C. Perform thoracotomy
D. Obtain a CT-scan of chest and abdomen
,E. Repeat the physical examination of the chest ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------E. Repeat the physical examination of the chest
Which one of the following statements concerning spine and spinal cord
trauma is true?
A. A normal lateral c-spine film excludes injury
B. A vertebral injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a cord
injury
C. A patient with a suspected injury requires immobilization on a short
spine
D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is a
sign of spine injury
E. Determination of whether a spinal cord lesion is complete or incomplete
must be made in the primary survey ---------CORRECT ANSWER-------------
----D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is
a sign of spine injury
A 20 year old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash. When he arrives in
the ED, he shouts that he cannot move his legs. On physical examination,
there are noe abnormalities of the chest, abdomen or pelvis. The patient
has no sensation in his legs and cannot move them, but his arms are
moving. The patients RR is 28 bpm, HR is 88bpm and BP is 80/60mmHg.
He is pale and sweaty. What is the most likely cause of this condition?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Abdominal hemorrhage
D. Myocardial contusion
E. Hyperthermia. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------A. Neurogenic
shock
A 64-year-old man, involved in a high-speed car crash, is resuscitated
initially in a small hospital with limited resources. He has a closed head
injury with a GCS score of 13. He has a widened mediastinum on chest x-
ray with fractures of left ribs 2 through 4 but no pneumothorax. After
, infusing 2 liters of crystalloid solution, his blood pressure is 100/74, heart
rate is 110 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute.
He has gross hematuria and a pelvic fracture. You decide to transfer this
patient to a facility capable of providing a higher level of care. The facility is
128km (80 miles) away. Before transfer, you should first:
A. Intubate the patient
B. Perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage
C. Apply the pneumatic antishock garment
D. Call the receiving hospital and speak to the surgeon on call
E. Discuss the advisability of transfer with the patients family. ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------D. Call the receiving hospital and speak
to the surgeon on call
During the third trimester of pregnancy, all of the following changes occur
normally, EXCEPT a:
A. Decrease in PaCO2
B. Decrease in the leukocyte count
C. Reduce gastric emptying rate
D. Diminished residual lung volume
E. Diminished pelvic ligament tension ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------
------B. Decrease in the leukocyte count
In managing the head-injury patient, the most important initial step is to:
A. Secure the airway
B. Obtain c-spine film
C. Support the circulation
D. Control scalp hemorrhage
E. Determine GCS score ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------A.
Secure the airway
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is:
A. Intubate the patient
B. Assess arterial blood gases
C. Administer supplemental oxygen
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | GRADED A+
| VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION 2025 (JUST
RELEASED)
A 32-year-old man right leg is trapped beneath his overturned car for nearly
2 hours before he is extricated. On arrival in the ED, his right lower
extremity is cool, mottled, insensate, and motionless. Despite normal vital
signs, pulses cannot be palpated inferior to the femoral artery, and the
muscles of the lower extremity are firm and hard. During initial
management of this patient, which of the following is most likely to improve
chances for limb salvage?
A. Apply skeletal traction
B. Administering anticoagulant drugs
C. Adminstering thrombolytic therapy
D. Perform right lower extremity fasciotomy
E. Immediately transferring the patient to a trauma center. ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------D. Perform right lower extremity
fasciotomy
A patient arrives in the ED after being beaten about the head and face with
a wooden club. He is comatose and has a palpable depressed skull
fracture. His face is swollen and ecchymotic. He has gurgling respirations
and vomitus on his face and clothing. The most appropriate step after
providing supplemental oxygen and elevating his jaw is to:
A. Request a CT-scan
B. Insert a gastric tube
C. Suction of the oropharynx
D. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
E. Ventilate the patient with a bag-mask ---------CORRECT ANSWER--------
---------C. Suction of the oropharynx
,An 8 year old boy falls 4,5meters from a tree and is brought to the ED by
his familiy. His vital signs are normal, but he complains of left upper
quadrant pain. An abdominal CT scan reveals a moderately severe
laceration of the spleen. The receiving institution does not have 24 hour a
day operating room capabilities. The most appropriate management of this
patient would be:
A. Type and crossmatch for blood
B. Request consultation of a pediatrician
C. Transfer the patient to a trauma center
D. Admit the patient to the ICU
E. Prepare the patient for surgery the next day ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------D. Admit the patient to the ICU
A construction worker falls from a scaffold and is transferred to the ED. His
HR is 124 bpm and BP is 85/60mmHg. He complains of lower abdominal
pain. After assessing the airway and chest, immobilizing the c-spine and
initiating fluid resuscitation, the next step is to perform
A. FAST
B. Detailed neurological exam
C. Rectal exam
D. Cervical c-spine x-ray
E. Urethral catheterization. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------A.
FAST
A 22 year old male sustains a shotgun wound to the left shoulder and chest
at close range. His BP is 80/40mmHg and his HR is 130bpm. After 2 liters
of crystalloid solution are rapidly infused, his BP increases to 122/84, and
HR decreases to 100bpm. He is tachypneic with RR of 28. On physical
examination, his breath sounds are decreased at the left upper chest with
dullness on percussion. A large caliber (36 french) tube thoracostomy is
inserted in the fifth intercostal space with the return of 200ml of blood and
no air leak. The most appropriate next step is to:
A. insert a foley catheter
B. Begin to transfuse o-negative blood
C. Perform thoracotomy
D. Obtain a CT-scan of chest and abdomen
,E. Repeat the physical examination of the chest ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------E. Repeat the physical examination of the chest
Which one of the following statements concerning spine and spinal cord
trauma is true?
A. A normal lateral c-spine film excludes injury
B. A vertebral injury is unlikely in the absence of physical findings of a cord
injury
C. A patient with a suspected injury requires immobilization on a short
spine
D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is a
sign of spine injury
E. Determination of whether a spinal cord lesion is complete or incomplete
must be made in the primary survey ---------CORRECT ANSWER-------------
----D. Diaphragmatic breathing in an unconscious patient who has fallen is
a sign of spine injury
A 20 year old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash. When he arrives in
the ED, he shouts that he cannot move his legs. On physical examination,
there are noe abnormalities of the chest, abdomen or pelvis. The patient
has no sensation in his legs and cannot move them, but his arms are
moving. The patients RR is 28 bpm, HR is 88bpm and BP is 80/60mmHg.
He is pale and sweaty. What is the most likely cause of this condition?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiogenic shock
C. Abdominal hemorrhage
D. Myocardial contusion
E. Hyperthermia. ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------A. Neurogenic
shock
A 64-year-old man, involved in a high-speed car crash, is resuscitated
initially in a small hospital with limited resources. He has a closed head
injury with a GCS score of 13. He has a widened mediastinum on chest x-
ray with fractures of left ribs 2 through 4 but no pneumothorax. After
, infusing 2 liters of crystalloid solution, his blood pressure is 100/74, heart
rate is 110 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute.
He has gross hematuria and a pelvic fracture. You decide to transfer this
patient to a facility capable of providing a higher level of care. The facility is
128km (80 miles) away. Before transfer, you should first:
A. Intubate the patient
B. Perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage
C. Apply the pneumatic antishock garment
D. Call the receiving hospital and speak to the surgeon on call
E. Discuss the advisability of transfer with the patients family. ---------
CORRECT ANSWER-----------------D. Call the receiving hospital and speak
to the surgeon on call
During the third trimester of pregnancy, all of the following changes occur
normally, EXCEPT a:
A. Decrease in PaCO2
B. Decrease in the leukocyte count
C. Reduce gastric emptying rate
D. Diminished residual lung volume
E. Diminished pelvic ligament tension ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------
------B. Decrease in the leukocyte count
In managing the head-injury patient, the most important initial step is to:
A. Secure the airway
B. Obtain c-spine film
C. Support the circulation
D. Control scalp hemorrhage
E. Determine GCS score ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------A.
Secure the airway
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is:
A. Intubate the patient
B. Assess arterial blood gases
C. Administer supplemental oxygen
