ATLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!
,Patients with a GSC of less than ___ usually require intubation. - ANSWER 8
The "A" in ABCD stands for _______. - ANSWER Airway maintenance with CERVICAL
SPINE PROTECTION
You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an altered level of
consciousness or blunt injury above the clavicle has what type of injury? - ANSWER
Cervical spine injury
Flail chest is invariably accompanied by ______ which can interfere with blood
oxygenation. - ANSWER pulmonary contusion - do NOT over fluid resuscitate these
patients!
Hypotension is caused by _____ until proven otherwise. - ANSWER hypovolemia
When you don't have/can't get a blood pressure, what are three things to look for when
evaluating perfusion. - ANSWER 1. Level of consciousness (brain perfusion), 2. Skin
color (ashen face/grey extremities) 3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy)
Elderly patients have a limited ability to ______ to compensate for blood loss. -
ANSWER increase heart rate
Resuscitation fluids should be warmed 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 F). Can you use a
microwave to do this? - ANSWER YES - for CRYSTALLOID ONLY (but NOT for blood
products).
Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume status. List 5 signs
of urethral injury that might prevent you from inserting one. - ANSWER Blood at urethral
meatus, perineal ecchymosis, blood in scrotum, high-riding/non-palpable prostate,
pelvic fracture
Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on? - ANSWER The arm with a blood
pressure cuff on it
Name two anatomical things that can interfere with doing a FAST scan. - ANSWER
Obesity & intraluminal bowel gas
When should radiographs be obtained? - ANSWER During the SECONDARY survey.
How do you get an ample patient history? - ANSWER A=Allergies, M=Medications,
P=PMH/Pregnancy, L=Last meal, E=Events/Environment of injury
, Adult patients should maintain UOP of at least ___ mL/kg/hr. Kids should have at least
___ mL/kg/hr. - ANSWER Adults 0.5 mL/kg/hr, Kids 1.0 ml/kg/hr
Preventing hypercarbia is critical in patients who have sustained a _____ injury. -
ANSWER head
What two places would you LOOK at a patient if you suspect hypoxemia? - ANSWER
Lips and fingernail beds
Patients may be abusive and belligerent because of _____, so don't just assume it's
due to drugs, alcohol, or the fact that they are just inherently a jerk. - ANSWER hypoxia
Can a patient breathe on their own after complete cervical cord transection? - ANSWER
Yes, if the phrenic nerves (C3-C5) are spared. This will result in "abdominal" breathing.
The intercostal muscles will be paralyzed though.
Can you use an OPA (Guedel) in a conscious patient? - ANSWER No, it could make
them vomit. An NPA (trumpet) would be okay.
Bougies are typically inserted blindly, how do you know you are in the trachea and not
the esophagus? - ANSWER You can feel the "clicks" as the distal tip rubs against the
cartilaginous tracheal rings, or it will deviate right or left when entering either bronchus
(usually at 50 cm).
What do you NOT want to hear if you ascultate a patient after placement of an ET tube?
- ANSWER Borborygmi - rumbling or gurgling noises suggesting esophageal insertion.
What is the RSI dose for etomidate? - ANSWER 0.3 mg/kg (usually 20 mg)
What is the RSI dose for sux? - ANSWER 1-2 mg/kg (usually 100 mg)
How does etomidate affect blood pressure? - ANSWER It doesn't - at least it
SHOULDN'T have any significant effect on BP. Ketamine will increase BP, and propofol
and thiopental will both drop BP.
A RSI dose of sux usually lasts about ___ minutes. - ANSWER 5
What hypnotic/sedative/induction agent do you NOT want to use for a severely burned
patient? - ANSWER SUX - patients with severe burns, crush injuries, hyperkalemia, or
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!
,Patients with a GSC of less than ___ usually require intubation. - ANSWER 8
The "A" in ABCD stands for _______. - ANSWER Airway maintenance with CERVICAL
SPINE PROTECTION
You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an altered level of
consciousness or blunt injury above the clavicle has what type of injury? - ANSWER
Cervical spine injury
Flail chest is invariably accompanied by ______ which can interfere with blood
oxygenation. - ANSWER pulmonary contusion - do NOT over fluid resuscitate these
patients!
Hypotension is caused by _____ until proven otherwise. - ANSWER hypovolemia
When you don't have/can't get a blood pressure, what are three things to look for when
evaluating perfusion. - ANSWER 1. Level of consciousness (brain perfusion), 2. Skin
color (ashen face/grey extremities) 3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy)
Elderly patients have a limited ability to ______ to compensate for blood loss. -
ANSWER increase heart rate
Resuscitation fluids should be warmed 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 F). Can you use a
microwave to do this? - ANSWER YES - for CRYSTALLOID ONLY (but NOT for blood
products).
Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume status. List 5 signs
of urethral injury that might prevent you from inserting one. - ANSWER Blood at urethral
meatus, perineal ecchymosis, blood in scrotum, high-riding/non-palpable prostate,
pelvic fracture
Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on? - ANSWER The arm with a blood
pressure cuff on it
Name two anatomical things that can interfere with doing a FAST scan. - ANSWER
Obesity & intraluminal bowel gas
When should radiographs be obtained? - ANSWER During the SECONDARY survey.
How do you get an ample patient history? - ANSWER A=Allergies, M=Medications,
P=PMH/Pregnancy, L=Last meal, E=Events/Environment of injury
, Adult patients should maintain UOP of at least ___ mL/kg/hr. Kids should have at least
___ mL/kg/hr. - ANSWER Adults 0.5 mL/kg/hr, Kids 1.0 ml/kg/hr
Preventing hypercarbia is critical in patients who have sustained a _____ injury. -
ANSWER head
What two places would you LOOK at a patient if you suspect hypoxemia? - ANSWER
Lips and fingernail beds
Patients may be abusive and belligerent because of _____, so don't just assume it's
due to drugs, alcohol, or the fact that they are just inherently a jerk. - ANSWER hypoxia
Can a patient breathe on their own after complete cervical cord transection? - ANSWER
Yes, if the phrenic nerves (C3-C5) are spared. This will result in "abdominal" breathing.
The intercostal muscles will be paralyzed though.
Can you use an OPA (Guedel) in a conscious patient? - ANSWER No, it could make
them vomit. An NPA (trumpet) would be okay.
Bougies are typically inserted blindly, how do you know you are in the trachea and not
the esophagus? - ANSWER You can feel the "clicks" as the distal tip rubs against the
cartilaginous tracheal rings, or it will deviate right or left when entering either bronchus
(usually at 50 cm).
What do you NOT want to hear if you ascultate a patient after placement of an ET tube?
- ANSWER Borborygmi - rumbling or gurgling noises suggesting esophageal insertion.
What is the RSI dose for etomidate? - ANSWER 0.3 mg/kg (usually 20 mg)
What is the RSI dose for sux? - ANSWER 1-2 mg/kg (usually 100 mg)
How does etomidate affect blood pressure? - ANSWER It doesn't - at least it
SHOULDN'T have any significant effect on BP. Ketamine will increase BP, and propofol
and thiopental will both drop BP.
A RSI dose of sux usually lasts about ___ minutes. - ANSWER 5
What hypnotic/sedative/induction agent do you NOT want to use for a severely burned
patient? - ANSWER SUX - patients with severe burns, crush injuries, hyperkalemia, or
