1|Page
ATLS POST-TEST EXAM|| ACTUAL EXAM ALL
QUESTIONS AND 100% QUESTIONS AND 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+||
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 2
liters of crystalloid solution 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. His breath sounds are decreased in the left
hemithorax, and after initial IV fluid resuscitation, a closed tube
thoracostomy is performed for decreased left 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:
a) reexamine the chest.
b) perform an aortogram.
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest.
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses - ANSWER: a) reexamine the chest
Which one of the following physical findings suggests a cause of
hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
a) priapism.
b) bradycardia.
c) diaphragmatic breathing.
d) presence of deep tendon reflexes. - ANSWER: d) presence of deep
tendon reflexes.
,2|Page
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:
a) compartment pressures
b) retrograde urethrogram
c) Doppler-ultrasound studies
d) complete spine x-ray series - ANSWER: d) complete spine x-ray series
In managing the head-injured patient, the most important initial step is to:
a) obtain c-spine film.
b) secure the airway.
c) support the circulation.
d) control scalp hemorrhage. - ANSWER: b) 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?
a) His pulse pressure will be widened.
b) His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal.
c) He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure.
d) His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed
pulse pressure. - ANSWER: d) His systolic blood pressure will be
decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
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The physiologic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the
management of the severely injured, gravid woman by:
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion.
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema.
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
d) complicating the mangement of closed head injury. -
ANSWER: c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce
maternal hypotension.
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is:
a) adequate urinary output.
b) reversal of systemic acidosis.
c) normalization of the heart rate.
d) a normal central venous pressure. - ANSWER: a) adequate urinary
output.
The diagnosis of shock must include:
a) increased vascular resistance.
b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
c) acidosis.
d) hypoxemia. - ANSWER: b) 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:
, 4|Page
a) application of a tourniquet.
b) direct pressure on the wound.
c) packing the wound with gauze.
d) direct pressure on the femoral artery at the groin. - ANSWER:
b) direct pressure on the wound.
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia
should be avoided to prevent:
a) respiratory acidosis.
b) metabolic acidosis.
c) cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion.
d) neurogenic pulmonary edema. - ANSWER: c) cerebral
vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion.
A 25-year-old man is brought to a hospital with a general surgeon after
being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Computed tomography 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:
a) contrast angiography.
b) transfer to a higher level trauma center.
c) exploratory laparotomy.
d) infuse additional crystalloids. - ANSWER: c) exploratory laparotomy.
Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the
pregnant patient is TRUE?
ATLS POST-TEST EXAM|| ACTUAL EXAM ALL
QUESTIONS AND 100% QUESTIONS AND 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+||
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 2
liters of crystalloid solution 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. His breath sounds are decreased in the left
hemithorax, and after initial IV fluid resuscitation, a closed tube
thoracostomy is performed for decreased left 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:
a) reexamine the chest.
b) perform an aortogram.
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest.
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses - ANSWER: a) reexamine the chest
Which one of the following physical findings suggests a cause of
hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
a) priapism.
b) bradycardia.
c) diaphragmatic breathing.
d) presence of deep tendon reflexes. - ANSWER: d) presence of deep
tendon reflexes.
,2|Page
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:
a) compartment pressures
b) retrograde urethrogram
c) Doppler-ultrasound studies
d) complete spine x-ray series - ANSWER: d) complete spine x-ray series
In managing the head-injured patient, the most important initial step is to:
a) obtain c-spine film.
b) secure the airway.
c) support the circulation.
d) control scalp hemorrhage. - ANSWER: b) 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?
a) His pulse pressure will be widened.
b) His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal.
c) He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure.
d) His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed
pulse pressure. - ANSWER: d) His systolic blood pressure will be
decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
,3|Page
The physiologic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the
management of the severely injured, gravid woman by:
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion.
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema.
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
d) complicating the mangement of closed head injury. -
ANSWER: c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce
maternal hypotension.
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the burn patient is:
a) adequate urinary output.
b) reversal of systemic acidosis.
c) normalization of the heart rate.
d) a normal central venous pressure. - ANSWER: a) adequate urinary
output.
The diagnosis of shock must include:
a) increased vascular resistance.
b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
c) acidosis.
d) hypoxemia. - ANSWER: b) 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:
, 4|Page
a) application of a tourniquet.
b) direct pressure on the wound.
c) packing the wound with gauze.
d) direct pressure on the femoral artery at the groin. - ANSWER:
b) direct pressure on the wound.
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia
should be avoided to prevent:
a) respiratory acidosis.
b) metabolic acidosis.
c) cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion.
d) neurogenic pulmonary edema. - ANSWER: c) cerebral
vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion.
A 25-year-old man is brought to a hospital with a general surgeon after
being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Computed tomography 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:
a) contrast angiography.
b) transfer to a higher level trauma center.
c) exploratory laparotomy.
d) infuse additional crystalloids. - ANSWER: c) exploratory laparotomy.
Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the
pregnant patient is TRUE?
