ATLS EXAM 2024/2025
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
Why might you want a Bair Hugger for a patient who smells of alcohol? -
ANSWER Vasodilation can lead to hypothermia
, What things are you looking for when you do a DRE in a trauma? - ANSWER
Blood, high-riding prostate (in males), and sphincter tone
What should you do for every female patient? - ANSWER
Pregnancy test (females of childbearing age)
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 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
Why might you want a Bair Hugger for a patient who smells of alcohol? -
ANSWER Vasodilation can lead to hypothermia
, What things are you looking for when you do a DRE in a trauma? - ANSWER
Blood, high-riding prostate (in males), and sphincter tone
What should you do for every female patient? - ANSWER
Pregnancy test (females of childbearing age)
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
