PHTLS 10th Edition 2025/2026 DESIGNED TO REFLECT
THE CURRENT EXAM AND SUPPORT YOUR SUCCESS.
1. You have been performing ongoing management on a 35-year-old female patient who sustained
thoracic trauma when a car hit her as she crossed the street. Originally, your electronic monitoring
devices all produce results consistent with your patient's clinical condition. However, en route the
trauma center, the monitors start to differ from your patient's current clinical condition each time you
reassess. How should you handle this situation?
A. Treat the patient's condition, not the monitor results.
B. Continue to reassess the patient and record the results for the trauma center.
C. Treat your patient based on the test results.
D. Stop testing and wait until you arrive at the trauma center for them to perform an assessment. -
correct answer✔✔ Question 1: A
If there are inconsistent data from electronic monitoring devices, reassess to be sure the monitor
matches the patient's current clinical condition. However, it is most important to treat the patient, not
the monitor, so use other signs and symptoms of potential patient deterioration.
2. You have determined that you are going to need to perform orotracheal intubation on a 50-year-old
male motor vehicle crash (MVC) critically injured trauma patient due to prolonged transport time. What
do you need to do first?
A. Preoxygenate to maximize oxygen saturation.
B. Place the patient in a "sniffing"position.
C. Clear the mouth of any obstructions.
D. Prepare the patient for immediate transport. - correct answer✔✔ Question 2: A
Before insertion of any invasive airway, the patient is preoxygenated with a high concentration of
oxygen using a simple airway adjunct or manual airway procedure.
3. You are oxygenating a pediatric patient using a properly fitted oxygen mask and the "squeeze-release-
release" timing technique. As you watch for the rise and fall of the chest, you check end-tidal CO2
(ETCO2) monitoring aiming to maintain what level?
A. Between 40 and 45 mm Hg
, B. Between 30 and 35 mm Hg
C. Between 35 and 40 mm Hg
D. The level is irrelevant because capnography is inaccurate in pediatric patients. - correct answer✔✔
Question 3: C
The proper level to maintain is between 35 and 40 mm Hg.
4. What is one reason to use capnography as part of your patient reassessment?
A. To get accurate readings for blood pressure
B. To assure proper ET tube placement
C. To measure arterial blood saturation
D. To ensure proper placement for needle decompression - correct answer✔✔ Question 4: B
Capnography can monitor proper endotracheal tube placement. It doesn't read blood pressure, so it
cannot beused to determine if a patient is hypotensive. Pulse oximetry, not capnography, measures
arterial blood saturation. Capnography is not useful in needle decompression.
1. Your partner is compressing the bleeding site of a male patient who was stabbed multiple times in the
left chest. The bleeding seems to be controlled, yet the patient becomes combative. He is pale and is
breathing rapidly, yet states that he "can't breathe" and feels that he is about to die. Your next step in
patient management is to:
A. start assisted ventilation.
B. give high-flow oxygen.
C. decompress the left chest.
D. give a 250-mL fluid bolus. - correct answer✔✔ Question 1: C
After X come A and B. You can quickly auscultate the lungs (pneumothorax is almost certain with
multiple stabs in the chest) and decompress the chest. Decompressing a tension pneumothorax is the
quickest way to treat shock.
2. The patient's respiration improves markedly, but he remains confused. He has an absent radial pulse,
and his carotid pulse is fast and thready. Your partner asks if he can let the compression go to put in an
IV. How should you respond?
A. "Oh yes, that's a great idea!"
B. "Yes, but we have to immobilize him first"
THE CURRENT EXAM AND SUPPORT YOUR SUCCESS.
1. You have been performing ongoing management on a 35-year-old female patient who sustained
thoracic trauma when a car hit her as she crossed the street. Originally, your electronic monitoring
devices all produce results consistent with your patient's clinical condition. However, en route the
trauma center, the monitors start to differ from your patient's current clinical condition each time you
reassess. How should you handle this situation?
A. Treat the patient's condition, not the monitor results.
B. Continue to reassess the patient and record the results for the trauma center.
C. Treat your patient based on the test results.
D. Stop testing and wait until you arrive at the trauma center for them to perform an assessment. -
correct answer✔✔ Question 1: A
If there are inconsistent data from electronic monitoring devices, reassess to be sure the monitor
matches the patient's current clinical condition. However, it is most important to treat the patient, not
the monitor, so use other signs and symptoms of potential patient deterioration.
2. You have determined that you are going to need to perform orotracheal intubation on a 50-year-old
male motor vehicle crash (MVC) critically injured trauma patient due to prolonged transport time. What
do you need to do first?
A. Preoxygenate to maximize oxygen saturation.
B. Place the patient in a "sniffing"position.
C. Clear the mouth of any obstructions.
D. Prepare the patient for immediate transport. - correct answer✔✔ Question 2: A
Before insertion of any invasive airway, the patient is preoxygenated with a high concentration of
oxygen using a simple airway adjunct or manual airway procedure.
3. You are oxygenating a pediatric patient using a properly fitted oxygen mask and the "squeeze-release-
release" timing technique. As you watch for the rise and fall of the chest, you check end-tidal CO2
(ETCO2) monitoring aiming to maintain what level?
A. Between 40 and 45 mm Hg
, B. Between 30 and 35 mm Hg
C. Between 35 and 40 mm Hg
D. The level is irrelevant because capnography is inaccurate in pediatric patients. - correct answer✔✔
Question 3: C
The proper level to maintain is between 35 and 40 mm Hg.
4. What is one reason to use capnography as part of your patient reassessment?
A. To get accurate readings for blood pressure
B. To assure proper ET tube placement
C. To measure arterial blood saturation
D. To ensure proper placement for needle decompression - correct answer✔✔ Question 4: B
Capnography can monitor proper endotracheal tube placement. It doesn't read blood pressure, so it
cannot beused to determine if a patient is hypotensive. Pulse oximetry, not capnography, measures
arterial blood saturation. Capnography is not useful in needle decompression.
1. Your partner is compressing the bleeding site of a male patient who was stabbed multiple times in the
left chest. The bleeding seems to be controlled, yet the patient becomes combative. He is pale and is
breathing rapidly, yet states that he "can't breathe" and feels that he is about to die. Your next step in
patient management is to:
A. start assisted ventilation.
B. give high-flow oxygen.
C. decompress the left chest.
D. give a 250-mL fluid bolus. - correct answer✔✔ Question 1: C
After X come A and B. You can quickly auscultate the lungs (pneumothorax is almost certain with
multiple stabs in the chest) and decompress the chest. Decompressing a tension pneumothorax is the
quickest way to treat shock.
2. The patient's respiration improves markedly, but he remains confused. He has an absent radial pulse,
and his carotid pulse is fast and thready. Your partner asks if he can let the compression go to put in an
IV. How should you respond?
A. "Oh yes, that's a great idea!"
B. "Yes, but we have to immobilize him first"
