ATLS POST TEST #2 2025/2026 ACTUAL
EXAM REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automobile, is admitted to the emergency department 1
hour after injury. His blood pressure is 80/60 mmHg, heart rate 140 beats per minute and respiratory
rate is 36 per minute. He is lethargic. Oxygen is delivered via face mask, and two large-caliber IVs are
initiated. Arterial blood gases are obtained. His PaO2 is 118 mmHg, PaCO2 is 30 mmHg, and pH is 7.21.
The treatment of his acid-base disorder is best accomplished by:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Restoration of normal perfusion
C. Initiation of low-dose dopamine
D. Administration of sodium bicarbonate
E. Initiation of phenylepinephrine infusion
The highest priority in managing a patient whose injuries include closed extremity fractures is:
A. Assessing limb perfusion
B. Preventing necrosis of the skin
C. Decompressing compartment syndrome
D. Addressing respiratory insufficiency
E. Identifying crush syndrome
, A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash is brought to the emergency department. She
is talking, but her voice is hoarse and on exposure she has diagonal bruising of the chest and anterior
neck. What is the next step?
A. Direct laryngoscopy to exclude laryngeal trauma
B. Oxygen by non-rebreathing mask
C. Protecting the spine by making her lie down
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger
A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right lower chest, midway between the nipple and
the costal margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical capabilities. In the
emergency department he is endotracheally intubated, fluid resuscitation is initiated through two large-
caliber IV lines, and a closed tube thoracostomy is performed, with the return of 200 ml of blood. A
chest x- ray reveals correct placement of the chest tube and a small residual hemothorax. His blood
pressure is now 70/0 mmHg, and his heart rate is 140 beats per minute. His hypotension is most likely
due to:
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Massive hemothorax
C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Intraabdominal bleeding
E. Insufficient isotonic crystalloid infusion
A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash after having ridden for hours on a very hot day.
When he arrives in the emergency department, he shouts that he cannot move his legs. On physical
EXAM REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automobile, is admitted to the emergency department 1
hour after injury. His blood pressure is 80/60 mmHg, heart rate 140 beats per minute and respiratory
rate is 36 per minute. He is lethargic. Oxygen is delivered via face mask, and two large-caliber IVs are
initiated. Arterial blood gases are obtained. His PaO2 is 118 mmHg, PaCO2 is 30 mmHg, and pH is 7.21.
The treatment of his acid-base disorder is best accomplished by:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Restoration of normal perfusion
C. Initiation of low-dose dopamine
D. Administration of sodium bicarbonate
E. Initiation of phenylepinephrine infusion
The highest priority in managing a patient whose injuries include closed extremity fractures is:
A. Assessing limb perfusion
B. Preventing necrosis of the skin
C. Decompressing compartment syndrome
D. Addressing respiratory insufficiency
E. Identifying crush syndrome
, A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash is brought to the emergency department. She
is talking, but her voice is hoarse and on exposure she has diagonal bruising of the chest and anterior
neck. What is the next step?
A. Direct laryngoscopy to exclude laryngeal trauma
B. Oxygen by non-rebreathing mask
C. Protecting the spine by making her lie down
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger
A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right lower chest, midway between the nipple and
the costal margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical capabilities. In the
emergency department he is endotracheally intubated, fluid resuscitation is initiated through two large-
caliber IV lines, and a closed tube thoracostomy is performed, with the return of 200 ml of blood. A
chest x- ray reveals correct placement of the chest tube and a small residual hemothorax. His blood
pressure is now 70/0 mmHg, and his heart rate is 140 beats per minute. His hypotension is most likely
due to:
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Massive hemothorax
C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Intraabdominal bleeding
E. Insufficient isotonic crystalloid infusion
A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash after having ridden for hours on a very hot day.
When he arrives in the emergency department, he shouts that he cannot move his legs. On physical
