ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT ACTUAL EXAM
LATEST 2024/2025 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A++
What is included in the Primary survey of a trauma patient? - ANSWER -
Airway and C-Spine
-Breathing and Ventilation
-Circulation/bleeding control
-Disability (Neuro Eval)
-Exposure and Environmental control.
What are adjuncts to Primary Survey and Resuscitation? - ANSWER ECG
monitoring
Urinary/Gastric Catheters
Other Monitoring
X-ray and Dx studies.
What makes up the Secondary Survey? - ANSWER History and Physical
Exam
Mechanism of Injury
Head and Maxillofacial
C-spine
Chest
Abdomen
Perineum/Rectum/Vagina
Musculoskeletal
Neurologic
Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? - ANSWER 1. Preparation
2. Triage
3. Primary survey
4. Adjunct to Primary survey
5. Re-assess ABCDE and consider need for transfer
6. Transfer if needed
7. Secondary Survey
8. Adjuncts to second Survey
9. Pt. re-evaluation
10. Definitive Care.
,What is something you could do to get a quick assessment of ABCD? -
ANSWER Ask the pt. a question. If they can respond it can give you an
idea about their airway and mental status. Failure to respond tells you there
are abnormalities in ABCD.
What assumption can safely be made in a pt. with blunt multisystem trauma
above the clavicle or Altered mental status? - ANSWER That the C-spine is
compromised.
4 Steps to manage A? - ANSWER Assess for patency
Establish airway
Maintain C-spine
Reinstate Proper C-spine devices.
2 steps to Breathing? - ANSWER 1.Expose Neck and chest to inspect and
palpate. Percuss chest for presence of dullness or hyperresonance,
auscultate chest bilaterally. All this checking for Tension Pneumo, Flail
chest, Hemothorax, Open Pneumothorax.
2. Administer High concentration O2, ventilate with bag, alleviate Tension
Pneumo, attach CO2 monitor to ET tube, Pulse ox.
What is the predominant cause of preventable deaths after injury? -
ANSWER Hemorrhage.
2 steps to managing C? - ANSWER 1. Identify any sources of
external/internal bleeding bleeding. The four big areas for massive bleeding
include: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis, Femur Fx.
Assess Pulse quality, color of skin level of consciousness, BP.
2. Large bore IVs and obtain blood samples. Type and cross,
ABG.
Warm Fluids/blood.
T or F: Aggressive and continued volume resuscitation is not a substitute
for definitive control of hemorrhage. - ANSWER True.
Blood loss Classifications? - ANSWER Class 1: 750mL Loss= 15%
Class 2: 750-1500mL Loss=15-30%
Class 3: 1500-2000mL Loss= 30-40%
,Class 4: >2000mL Loss= >40%
Urine output will be less. HR will increase. BP decreases, Respiratory Rate
Increases.
At what class Should you start Blood transfusing? - ANSWER Class 3 or
higher.
3 Steps to D? - ANSWER Establish Level of consciousness, Pupillary size
and reaction, Lateralizing signs and spinal cord injury level.
1. Glascow score.
2. Pupil size and reaction
Blown and dilated pupils indicate intracranial hemorrhage or swelling with
increased ICP
3. Lateralizing signs. If they are moving, are they moving both sides
equally, are there any signs of spinal cord injury.
What is assessed in glasgow? - ANSWER eyes response= 4
Verbal response=5
Motor Response=6
At what Glasgow score should you intubate? - ANSWER 8
How can you control Exposure/Environment? - ANSWER Undress pt.
Prevent Hypothermia
Warmed IV fluids. Room temp maintained appropriately.
What are some adjuncts that may be used during primary survey? -
ANSWER ECG, ABGs, ET CO2, FAST ultrasound, DPL, Chest and pelvic
Xrays, Urinary/Gastric Catheters
When can the Secondary survey begin? - ANSWER When the Primary
survey is completed, resuscitative efforts are underway and normalization
of Vital functions has been demonstrated.
18 Steps to Secondary Survey? - ANSWER 1. AMPLE Hx
2. Mechanism of injury (Blunt/penetrating?)
, 3. Head/Maxillofacial (lacerations, contusions, pupils, Ears, nose and
mouth for blood or CSF, eyes, CN function. Reassess GCS., Visual acuity
4. Maintain airway, Control hemorrhage, Prevent Secondary brain injury
like anoxic or cerebral edema. Remove contact lenses.
5. C-spine and neck. Tracheal deviation, blunt or penetrating trauma,
Respiratory muscles, carotid arteries for bruits, symmetry of pulses.
Obtain CT of cervical spine or a lateral, cross-table spine xray.
6. In-line immobilization and protection of C- spine.
7- Chest: Palpate, Auscultate, Percuss, check for flail chest, contusion,
bleeding, breathing.
8- Chest management: Needle decompression, Chest tube,
Pericardiocentesis, Dressing any chest wounds.
9- Abdomen: Rigidness, AAA, Tenderness, Ultrasound, muscle guarding,
bowel sounds, percussion, palpation, signs of blunt or penetrating trauma.
Pelvic Xray, CT of abdomen.
10. Management of abdomen
Immediate surgery for exploratory laparotomy, Pelvic compression binder.
pregnancy.
11. Perineal Assessment for contusions, lacerations or bleeding.
12. Rectal assessment
Bleeding, sphincter tone, bowell wall integrity, bony fragments, prostate
position.
13. Vaginal Assessment in select pts. Presence of blood. Pregnancy.
Exploratory surgery.
14. Musculoskeletal Assessment:
Inspect extremities for blunt or penetrating trauma, deformities, lacerations,
sensation, Pulses, fractures, control any bleeding if not done yet. Inspect
and palpate throacic and lumbar spines for injury, deformity. X rays for
suspected fracture sites.
LATEST 2024/2025 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A++
What is included in the Primary survey of a trauma patient? - ANSWER -
Airway and C-Spine
-Breathing and Ventilation
-Circulation/bleeding control
-Disability (Neuro Eval)
-Exposure and Environmental control.
What are adjuncts to Primary Survey and Resuscitation? - ANSWER ECG
monitoring
Urinary/Gastric Catheters
Other Monitoring
X-ray and Dx studies.
What makes up the Secondary Survey? - ANSWER History and Physical
Exam
Mechanism of Injury
Head and Maxillofacial
C-spine
Chest
Abdomen
Perineum/Rectum/Vagina
Musculoskeletal
Neurologic
Basic Outline of ATLS Protocol? - ANSWER 1. Preparation
2. Triage
3. Primary survey
4. Adjunct to Primary survey
5. Re-assess ABCDE and consider need for transfer
6. Transfer if needed
7. Secondary Survey
8. Adjuncts to second Survey
9. Pt. re-evaluation
10. Definitive Care.
,What is something you could do to get a quick assessment of ABCD? -
ANSWER Ask the pt. a question. If they can respond it can give you an
idea about their airway and mental status. Failure to respond tells you there
are abnormalities in ABCD.
What assumption can safely be made in a pt. with blunt multisystem trauma
above the clavicle or Altered mental status? - ANSWER That the C-spine is
compromised.
4 Steps to manage A? - ANSWER Assess for patency
Establish airway
Maintain C-spine
Reinstate Proper C-spine devices.
2 steps to Breathing? - ANSWER 1.Expose Neck and chest to inspect and
palpate. Percuss chest for presence of dullness or hyperresonance,
auscultate chest bilaterally. All this checking for Tension Pneumo, Flail
chest, Hemothorax, Open Pneumothorax.
2. Administer High concentration O2, ventilate with bag, alleviate Tension
Pneumo, attach CO2 monitor to ET tube, Pulse ox.
What is the predominant cause of preventable deaths after injury? -
ANSWER Hemorrhage.
2 steps to managing C? - ANSWER 1. Identify any sources of
external/internal bleeding bleeding. The four big areas for massive bleeding
include: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis, Femur Fx.
Assess Pulse quality, color of skin level of consciousness, BP.
2. Large bore IVs and obtain blood samples. Type and cross,
ABG.
Warm Fluids/blood.
T or F: Aggressive and continued volume resuscitation is not a substitute
for definitive control of hemorrhage. - ANSWER True.
Blood loss Classifications? - ANSWER Class 1: 750mL Loss= 15%
Class 2: 750-1500mL Loss=15-30%
Class 3: 1500-2000mL Loss= 30-40%
,Class 4: >2000mL Loss= >40%
Urine output will be less. HR will increase. BP decreases, Respiratory Rate
Increases.
At what class Should you start Blood transfusing? - ANSWER Class 3 or
higher.
3 Steps to D? - ANSWER Establish Level of consciousness, Pupillary size
and reaction, Lateralizing signs and spinal cord injury level.
1. Glascow score.
2. Pupil size and reaction
Blown and dilated pupils indicate intracranial hemorrhage or swelling with
increased ICP
3. Lateralizing signs. If they are moving, are they moving both sides
equally, are there any signs of spinal cord injury.
What is assessed in glasgow? - ANSWER eyes response= 4
Verbal response=5
Motor Response=6
At what Glasgow score should you intubate? - ANSWER 8
How can you control Exposure/Environment? - ANSWER Undress pt.
Prevent Hypothermia
Warmed IV fluids. Room temp maintained appropriately.
What are some adjuncts that may be used during primary survey? -
ANSWER ECG, ABGs, ET CO2, FAST ultrasound, DPL, Chest and pelvic
Xrays, Urinary/Gastric Catheters
When can the Secondary survey begin? - ANSWER When the Primary
survey is completed, resuscitative efforts are underway and normalization
of Vital functions has been demonstrated.
18 Steps to Secondary Survey? - ANSWER 1. AMPLE Hx
2. Mechanism of injury (Blunt/penetrating?)
, 3. Head/Maxillofacial (lacerations, contusions, pupils, Ears, nose and
mouth for blood or CSF, eyes, CN function. Reassess GCS., Visual acuity
4. Maintain airway, Control hemorrhage, Prevent Secondary brain injury
like anoxic or cerebral edema. Remove contact lenses.
5. C-spine and neck. Tracheal deviation, blunt or penetrating trauma,
Respiratory muscles, carotid arteries for bruits, symmetry of pulses.
Obtain CT of cervical spine or a lateral, cross-table spine xray.
6. In-line immobilization and protection of C- spine.
7- Chest: Palpate, Auscultate, Percuss, check for flail chest, contusion,
bleeding, breathing.
8- Chest management: Needle decompression, Chest tube,
Pericardiocentesis, Dressing any chest wounds.
9- Abdomen: Rigidness, AAA, Tenderness, Ultrasound, muscle guarding,
bowel sounds, percussion, palpation, signs of blunt or penetrating trauma.
Pelvic Xray, CT of abdomen.
10. Management of abdomen
Immediate surgery for exploratory laparotomy, Pelvic compression binder.
pregnancy.
11. Perineal Assessment for contusions, lacerations or bleeding.
12. Rectal assessment
Bleeding, sphincter tone, bowell wall integrity, bony fragments, prostate
position.
13. Vaginal Assessment in select pts. Presence of blood. Pregnancy.
Exploratory surgery.
14. Musculoskeletal Assessment:
Inspect extremities for blunt or penetrating trauma, deformities, lacerations,
sensation, Pulses, fractures, control any bleeding if not done yet. Inspect
and palpate throacic and lumbar spines for injury, deformity. X rays for
suspected fracture sites.
