ATLS Post Test with Questions and Answers

ATLS Post Test with Questions and Answers A 22 year old male is brought by ambulance to a small community hospital after falling from the top of an 8 foot ladder. Initially, he was found to have a large right pneumothorax. A chest tube was inserted and connected to an underwater seal drainage collection system with negative pressure. A repeat CXR demonstrates a residual, large right pneumothorax. After transferring the patient to a verified trauma center, a third chest x-ray reveals a persistent right pneumothorax. The chest tube appears to be functioning and in good position. He remains hemodynamically normal with no signs of respiratory distress. The most likely cause for the persistent right pneumothorax is: A. Flail chest B. Diaphragmatic injury C. Pulmonary contusion D. Esophageal perforation E. Tracheobronchial injury ANSWER E. Tracheobronchial injury Which of the following is LEAST reliable for diagnosing ESOPHAGEAL intubation? A. symmetrical chest wall movement B. end-tidal CO2 C. bilateral breath sounds D. oxygen saturation 92% E. ETT above carina on chest x-ray ANSWER D. oxygen saturation 92% - if it says ESOPHAGEAL, go with this answer