ATLS Pre-test Questions and Complete
Answers
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 initial fluid resuscitation 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. A tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased left chest 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: - Answer: re-examine the chest
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: - Answer: complete spine x-ray series
Which of the following is true regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? - Answer:
Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in Glasgow
Coma Scale score on reevaluation.
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial step is to: -
Answer: 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? - Answer: An ABG would demonstrate a
base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L.
The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the management of the
severely injured, gravid woman by: - Answer: increasing the volume of blood loss to produce
maternal hypotension
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn patient is: - Answer: urinary output of
0.5 mL/kg/hr
The diagnosis of shock must include: - Answer: 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: - Answer: direct pressure on the wound
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia should be avoided to
prevent: - Answer: cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
After being involved in a motor vehicle crash, a 25-year-old man is brought to a hospital that has
surgery capabilities available.. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen shows an aortic
injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid. His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT.
The next step is: - Answer: perform an exploratory laparotomy
Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the pregnant patient is TRUE?
- Answer: Leakage of amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital admission.
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is: - Answer: administer supplemental
oxygen
A 25-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted to the emergency department. His
pupils react sluggishly and his eyes open to pressure. He does not follow commands, but he does
moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and does not respond to pressure; however, his left
hand reaches purposefully toward the stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS score is: -
Answer: 9
A 20-year-old woman who is at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper right chest. In the
emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is gasping for breath, extremely
anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are diminished in the right chest. The most appropriate
first step is to: - Answer: perform needle or finger decompression of the right chest
Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to require immediate management
during the primary survey? - Answer: respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
The most important, immediate step in the management of an open pneumothorax is: - Answer:
placement of an occlusive dressing over the wound
The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid administration: - Answer: history of
neurological reaction or severe hypersensitivity to the product
Answers
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 initial fluid resuscitation 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. A tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased left chest 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: - Answer: re-examine the chest
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: - Answer: complete spine x-ray series
Which of the following is true regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? - Answer:
Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in Glasgow
Coma Scale score on reevaluation.
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial step is to: -
Answer: 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? - Answer: An ABG would demonstrate a
base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L.
The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the management of the
severely injured, gravid woman by: - Answer: increasing the volume of blood loss to produce
maternal hypotension
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn patient is: - Answer: urinary output of
0.5 mL/kg/hr
The diagnosis of shock must include: - Answer: 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: - Answer: direct pressure on the wound
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia should be avoided to
prevent: - Answer: cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
After being involved in a motor vehicle crash, a 25-year-old man is brought to a hospital that has
surgery capabilities available.. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen shows an aortic
injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid. His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT.
The next step is: - Answer: perform an exploratory laparotomy
Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the pregnant patient is TRUE?
- Answer: Leakage of amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital admission.
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is: - Answer: administer supplemental
oxygen
A 25-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted to the emergency department. His
pupils react sluggishly and his eyes open to pressure. He does not follow commands, but he does
moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and does not respond to pressure; however, his left
hand reaches purposefully toward the stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS score is: -
Answer: 9
A 20-year-old woman who is at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper right chest. In the
emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is gasping for breath, extremely
anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are diminished in the right chest. The most appropriate
first step is to: - Answer: perform needle or finger decompression of the right chest
Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to require immediate management
during the primary survey? - Answer: respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
The most important, immediate step in the management of an open pneumothorax is: - Answer:
placement of an occlusive dressing over the wound
The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid administration: - Answer: history of
neurological reaction or severe hypersensitivity to the product
