ATLS PRACTICE TEST 2025-2026 ACTUAL
EXAM 250 REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT,CONFIRMED AND DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS)
In adults, an aspirated foreign body is most likely to get stuck in the:
A. Left main bronchus
B. Carina
C. Right main bronchus
D. Esophagus - ANSWER C. Right main bronchus
Skin finding characteristic of second-degree burns - ANSWER Blisters
Which is true regarding cervical spine fractures?
A. Seen most commonly in elderly females
B. Athletic activities are the most common cause
C. Falls are the most common cause
,D. Methylprednisolone should not be used in associated spinal cord injury in the first 48
hours - ANSWER D. Methylprednisolone should not be used in associated spinal cord
injury in the first 48 hours
In which patients can an oropharyngeal airway be used? - ANSWER Non-gag reflex
If a trauma patient has clear fluid draining from the nose the provider should do which
of the following?
A. Tilt the head back
B. Apply pressure
C. Collect the fluid
D. Insert nasal tampons - ANSWER C. Collect the fluid
What is the estimated time a person's brain can be anoxic from cardiopulmonary failure
and not develop permanent brain damage?
A. 10 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 2 minutes
D. 20 minutes - ANSWER B. 5 minutes
The laryngeal mask airway is contraindicated in patients with what condition?
A. Spine injury
B. Head trauma
C. Giving birth
D. Propensity to aspirate - ANSWER D. Propensity to aspirate
,A patient sustains blunt trauma to the back and left leg. Vital signs in the emergency
department show temperature 36 degrees C, BP 120/80 mm Hg, heart rate 92,
respirations 19, GCS 15. There is bilateral lower extremity paraplegia, T12 sensory level,
and decreased rectal tone. Hemoglobin is 14.2 and the same in one hour. Which of the
following tests is best for diagnosing an intraperitoneal bleed?
A. Abdominal ultrasound
B. Laparotomy
C. KUB
D. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage - ANSWER A. Abdominal ultrasound
Why is tracheostomy generally not performed at the first cartilage ring
A. The trachea is too narrow
B. A high chance of subglottic stenosis
C. A high chance of tracheo-innominate artery fistula
D. Inability to access the area - ANSWER B. A high chance of subglottic stenosis
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
EXAM 250 REAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT,CONFIRMED AND DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS)
In adults, an aspirated foreign body is most likely to get stuck in the:
A. Left main bronchus
B. Carina
C. Right main bronchus
D. Esophagus - ANSWER C. Right main bronchus
Skin finding characteristic of second-degree burns - ANSWER Blisters
Which is true regarding cervical spine fractures?
A. Seen most commonly in elderly females
B. Athletic activities are the most common cause
C. Falls are the most common cause
,D. Methylprednisolone should not be used in associated spinal cord injury in the first 48
hours - ANSWER D. Methylprednisolone should not be used in associated spinal cord
injury in the first 48 hours
In which patients can an oropharyngeal airway be used? - ANSWER Non-gag reflex
If a trauma patient has clear fluid draining from the nose the provider should do which
of the following?
A. Tilt the head back
B. Apply pressure
C. Collect the fluid
D. Insert nasal tampons - ANSWER C. Collect the fluid
What is the estimated time a person's brain can be anoxic from cardiopulmonary failure
and not develop permanent brain damage?
A. 10 minutes
B. 5 minutes
C. 2 minutes
D. 20 minutes - ANSWER B. 5 minutes
The laryngeal mask airway is contraindicated in patients with what condition?
A. Spine injury
B. Head trauma
C. Giving birth
D. Propensity to aspirate - ANSWER D. Propensity to aspirate
,A patient sustains blunt trauma to the back and left leg. Vital signs in the emergency
department show temperature 36 degrees C, BP 120/80 mm Hg, heart rate 92,
respirations 19, GCS 15. There is bilateral lower extremity paraplegia, T12 sensory level,
and decreased rectal tone. Hemoglobin is 14.2 and the same in one hour. Which of the
following tests is best for diagnosing an intraperitoneal bleed?
A. Abdominal ultrasound
B. Laparotomy
C. KUB
D. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage - ANSWER A. Abdominal ultrasound
Why is tracheostomy generally not performed at the first cartilage ring
A. The trachea is too narrow
B. A high chance of subglottic stenosis
C. A high chance of tracheo-innominate artery fistula
D. Inability to access the area - ANSWER B. A high chance of subglottic stenosis
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
