ATLS EXAM Actual Questions & Verified
Correct Answers
1.A 28 year old male is brought to the ED. He was involved in a fight, during
which he was beaten with a wooden stick. His chest shows multiple severe
bruises. His airway is clear, resp rate is 22, hear rate 126, and systolic blood
pressure is 90 mmHG. Which of the following should be performed during
the primary survey
a. glasgow coma
b. tetanus status
c. cervical spine xray
d. blood alcohol level
e. rectal exam
Answer: A. Glasgow coma
2.an 18yo male is brought to the emergency department after being dumped
by a large wave while surfing. He landed head first on the firm beach sand.
His vital signs are blood pressure 85/60 mmHg, heart rate 60, and
respiratory rate 18; he is unable to move his lower extremities. He appears
calm and asks if he will ever walk again. The most appropriate next step is
to:
a. reassure patient that he will walk again
b. proceed to a more detailed neuro exam
c. obtain c spin xrays
d. begin infusion of vasopressors
e. begin bolus of warm IV crystalloid
Answer: E. begin bolus of warm IV crystalloid
3.Which one of the following statements is true regarding access in
pediatric resuscitation?
a. intraosseous access should be considered only after 5 percutaneous
,at- tempts
b. cutdown at the ankle is the preferred initial access technique
c. internal jugular cannulation is the next preferred option when
percutaneous venous access fails
d. intraosseous cannulation should be the first choice
e. blood transfusion can be delivered through intraosseous access
Answer: E. blood transfusion can be delivered through intraosseous
access
4.A 23-year-old man is brought immediately to the ED from the hospitals
parking lot where he was shot in the lower abdomen. Examination reveals
a single bullet wound. He is breathing and has a thready pulse. However,
he is unconsious and has no detectable blood pressure. Optimale
immediate management is to:
A. Perform a FAST
B. Initiate infusion of packed red blood cells
C. Insert a nasogastric tube and urinary catheter
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid therapy
E. Initiate fluid therapy to return his blood pressure to normotensive
Answer: D. Trans- fer the patient to the operating room, while initiating
fluid therapy
5.A 22 year old male present following a motorcycle crash. He complains
of the inability to move his legs. His BP is 80/50, HR 70, RR 18 and GCS 15.
Oxygen saturation is 99% on 21 nasal prongs. Chest x-ray, pelvic x-ray and
FAST are normal. Extremities are normal. His management should be:
A: 1L of iv . crystalloid and two units of pRBCs
B. 1L of iv. crystalloid, mannitol and iv steroids
C. 1 unit of albumin and compression stockings
D. Vasopressors and laparotomy
A.1 L of cystalloid and vasopressors if blood pressure does not respond
Answer: E. 1 L of cystalloid and vasopressors if blood pressure does not
, respond
6.Which of the following is MOST RELIABLE to confirm endotracheal
intuba- tion?
a. presence of breath sounds bilaterally
b. absence of borborygmi in the epigatrium on ascultation
c. presence of CO2 in exhaled air via capnography
d. appearance of fog in the endotracheal tube
e. chest xray with endotracheal tube tip appearing above the carina
Answer: E. chest xray with endotracheal tube tip appearing above the
carina
7.A 6 month old infant, being held in her mothers arms, is ejected on
impact from a vehicle that is struck head on by an oncoming car traveling at
64kph. The infant arrives in the ED with multiple facial injuries, is lethargic,
and is in severe respiratoy distress. Respiratory support is not effective
using a bag mask device, and her oxygen saturation is falling. Repeated
attempts at orotracheal intubation are unsuccessful. the most appropriate
procedure to perform next is:
A. Administer heliox and racemic epinephrine
B. Perform nasotracheal intubation
C. Perform surgical cricothyroidotomy
D. Repeat orotracheal intubation
E. Perform needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation
Answer: E. Perform needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation
8.a 35 year old female ustains multiple linjuries in a MVA and is transported
to a small hospital. She has a GCS of V2E2M2. Spinal motion restrictions are
in place. ET is performed, IV and wamred fluids are administered. She
remains hemodynamically normal, and preparations are made to transfer to
another facility for definitive neuro care. Which of the following tests or
treatment
Correct Answers
1.A 28 year old male is brought to the ED. He was involved in a fight, during
which he was beaten with a wooden stick. His chest shows multiple severe
bruises. His airway is clear, resp rate is 22, hear rate 126, and systolic blood
pressure is 90 mmHG. Which of the following should be performed during
the primary survey
a. glasgow coma
b. tetanus status
c. cervical spine xray
d. blood alcohol level
e. rectal exam
Answer: A. Glasgow coma
2.an 18yo male is brought to the emergency department after being dumped
by a large wave while surfing. He landed head first on the firm beach sand.
His vital signs are blood pressure 85/60 mmHg, heart rate 60, and
respiratory rate 18; he is unable to move his lower extremities. He appears
calm and asks if he will ever walk again. The most appropriate next step is
to:
a. reassure patient that he will walk again
b. proceed to a more detailed neuro exam
c. obtain c spin xrays
d. begin infusion of vasopressors
e. begin bolus of warm IV crystalloid
Answer: E. begin bolus of warm IV crystalloid
3.Which one of the following statements is true regarding access in
pediatric resuscitation?
a. intraosseous access should be considered only after 5 percutaneous
,at- tempts
b. cutdown at the ankle is the preferred initial access technique
c. internal jugular cannulation is the next preferred option when
percutaneous venous access fails
d. intraosseous cannulation should be the first choice
e. blood transfusion can be delivered through intraosseous access
Answer: E. blood transfusion can be delivered through intraosseous
access
4.A 23-year-old man is brought immediately to the ED from the hospitals
parking lot where he was shot in the lower abdomen. Examination reveals
a single bullet wound. He is breathing and has a thready pulse. However,
he is unconsious and has no detectable blood pressure. Optimale
immediate management is to:
A. Perform a FAST
B. Initiate infusion of packed red blood cells
C. Insert a nasogastric tube and urinary catheter
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid therapy
E. Initiate fluid therapy to return his blood pressure to normotensive
Answer: D. Trans- fer the patient to the operating room, while initiating
fluid therapy
5.A 22 year old male present following a motorcycle crash. He complains
of the inability to move his legs. His BP is 80/50, HR 70, RR 18 and GCS 15.
Oxygen saturation is 99% on 21 nasal prongs. Chest x-ray, pelvic x-ray and
FAST are normal. Extremities are normal. His management should be:
A: 1L of iv . crystalloid and two units of pRBCs
B. 1L of iv. crystalloid, mannitol and iv steroids
C. 1 unit of albumin and compression stockings
D. Vasopressors and laparotomy
A.1 L of cystalloid and vasopressors if blood pressure does not respond
Answer: E. 1 L of cystalloid and vasopressors if blood pressure does not
, respond
6.Which of the following is MOST RELIABLE to confirm endotracheal
intuba- tion?
a. presence of breath sounds bilaterally
b. absence of borborygmi in the epigatrium on ascultation
c. presence of CO2 in exhaled air via capnography
d. appearance of fog in the endotracheal tube
e. chest xray with endotracheal tube tip appearing above the carina
Answer: E. chest xray with endotracheal tube tip appearing above the
carina
7.A 6 month old infant, being held in her mothers arms, is ejected on
impact from a vehicle that is struck head on by an oncoming car traveling at
64kph. The infant arrives in the ED with multiple facial injuries, is lethargic,
and is in severe respiratoy distress. Respiratory support is not effective
using a bag mask device, and her oxygen saturation is falling. Repeated
attempts at orotracheal intubation are unsuccessful. the most appropriate
procedure to perform next is:
A. Administer heliox and racemic epinephrine
B. Perform nasotracheal intubation
C. Perform surgical cricothyroidotomy
D. Repeat orotracheal intubation
E. Perform needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation
Answer: E. Perform needle cricothyroidotomy with jet insufflation
8.a 35 year old female ustains multiple linjuries in a MVA and is transported
to a small hospital. She has a GCS of V2E2M2. Spinal motion restrictions are
in place. ET is performed, IV and wamred fluids are administered. She
remains hemodynamically normal, and preparations are made to transfer to
another facility for definitive neuro care. Which of the following tests or
treatment
