POST TEST ATLS EXAM 2025| 150 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
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 2 liters of
crystalloid solution 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. His breath sounds are decreased in the left hemithorax, and after
initial IV fluid resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left breath sounds with the return of a small amount of blood and
no air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is:
a) reexamine the chest.
b) perform an aortogram.
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest.
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses - CORRECT ANS✔✔ a) reexamine the
chest
Which one of the following physical findings suggests a cause of hypotension
other than spinal cord injury?
a) priapism.
b) bradycardia.
c) diaphragmatic breathing.
d) presence of deep tendon reflexes. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ d) presence
of deep tendon reflexes.
,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. The
suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed by:
a) compartment pressures
b) retrograde urethrogram
c) Doppler-ultrasound studies
d) complete spine x-ray series - CORRECT ANS✔✔ d) complete spine x-ray
series
In managing the head-injured patient, the most important initial step is to:
a) obtain c-spine film.
b) secure the airway.
c) support the circulation.
d) control scalp hemorrhage. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ b) secure the airway.
,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?
a) His pulse pressure will be widened.
b) His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal.
c) He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure.
d) His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed pulse
pressure. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ d) His systolic blood pressure will be
decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
The physiologic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the
management of the severely injured, gravid woman by:
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion.
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema.
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
d) complicating the mangement of closed head injury. - CORRECT ANS✔✔
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is:
a) adequate urinary output.
b) reversal of systemic acidosis.
c) normalization of the heart rate.
d) a normal central venous pressure. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ a) adequate urinary
, output.
The diagnosis of shock must include:
a) increased vascular resistance.
b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
c) acidosis.
d) hypoxemia. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents
several minutes after he fell through a window. He is bleeding profusely
from a 6-cm wound of his medial right thigh. Immediate management of
the wound should consist of:
a) application of a tourniquet.
b) direct pressure on the wound.
c) packing the wound with gauze.
d) direct pressure on the femoral artery at the groin. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ b)
direct pressure on the wound.
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia
should be avoided to prevent:
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
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 2 liters of
crystalloid solution 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. His breath sounds are decreased in the left hemithorax, and after
initial IV fluid resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left breath sounds with the return of a small amount of blood and
no air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is:
a) reexamine the chest.
b) perform an aortogram.
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest.
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses - CORRECT ANS✔✔ a) reexamine the
chest
Which one of the following physical findings suggests a cause of hypotension
other than spinal cord injury?
a) priapism.
b) bradycardia.
c) diaphragmatic breathing.
d) presence of deep tendon reflexes. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ d) presence
of deep tendon reflexes.
,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. The
suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed by:
a) compartment pressures
b) retrograde urethrogram
c) Doppler-ultrasound studies
d) complete spine x-ray series - CORRECT ANS✔✔ d) complete spine x-ray
series
In managing the head-injured patient, the most important initial step is to:
a) obtain c-spine film.
b) secure the airway.
c) support the circulation.
d) control scalp hemorrhage. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ b) secure the airway.
,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?
a) His pulse pressure will be widened.
b) His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal.
c) He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure.
d) His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed pulse
pressure. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ d) His systolic blood pressure will be
decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
The physiologic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the
management of the severely injured, gravid woman by:
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion.
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema.
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
d) complicating the mangement of closed head injury. - CORRECT ANS✔✔
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is:
a) adequate urinary output.
b) reversal of systemic acidosis.
c) normalization of the heart rate.
d) a normal central venous pressure. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ a) adequate urinary
, output.
The diagnosis of shock must include:
a) increased vascular resistance.
b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
c) acidosis.
d) hypoxemia. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents
several minutes after he fell through a window. He is bleeding profusely
from a 6-cm wound of his medial right thigh. Immediate management of
the wound should consist of:
a) application of a tourniquet.
b) direct pressure on the wound.
c) packing the wound with gauze.
d) direct pressure on the femoral artery at the groin. - CORRECT ANS✔✔ b)
direct pressure on the wound.
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia
should be avoided to prevent:
