ATLS Post Test #2 Questions With
Correct Answers
/. A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automobile, is admitted to the emergency
department 1 hour after injury. His blood pressure is 80/60 mmHg, heart rate 140 beats
per minute and respiratory rate is 36 per minute. He is lethargic. Oxygen is delivered via
face mask, and two large-caliber IVs are initiated. Arterial blood gases are obtained. His
PaO2 is 118 mmHg, PaCO2 is 30 mmHg, and pH is 7.21. The treatment of his acid-
base disorder is best accomplished by:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Restoration of normal perfusion
C. Initiation of low-dose dopamine
D. Administration of sodium bicarbonate
E. Initiation of phenylepinephrine infusion - Answer-✅B
/.The highest priority in managing a patient whose injuries include closed extremity
fractures is:
A. Assessing limb perfusion
B. Preventing necrosis of the skin
C. Decompressing compartment syndrome
D. Addressing respiratory insufficiency
E. Identifying crush syndrome - Answer-✅D
/.A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash is brought to the emergency
department. She is talking, but her voice is hoarse and on exposure she has diagonal
bruising of the chest and anterior neck. What is the next step?
A. Direct laryngoscopy to exclude laryngeal trauma
B. Oxygen by non-rebreathing mask
C. Protecting the spine by making her lie down
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger - Answer-✅B
/.A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right lower chest, midway
between the nipple and the costal margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hospital that
has full surgical capabilities. In the emergency department he is endotracheally
intubated, fluid resuscitation is initiated through two large-caliber IV lines, and a closed
tube thoracostomy is performed, with the return of 200 ml of blood. A chest x- ray
reveals correct placement of the chest tube and a small residual hemothorax. His blood
pressure is now 70/0 mmHg, and his heart rate is 140 beats per minute. His
hypotension is most likely due to:
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Massive hemothorax
, C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Intraabdominal bleeding
E. Insufficient isotonic crystalloid infusion - Answer-✅D
/.A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash after having ridden for hours on
a very hot day. When he arrives in the emergency department, he shouts that he cannot
move his legs. On physical examination, there are no abnormalities of the chest,
abdomen, or pelvis. The patient has no sensation in his legs and cannot move them, but
his arms are moving. The patient's respiratory rate is 22, heart rate is 88, and blood
pressure is 80/60 mmHg. He is pale and sweaty. What is the most likely cause of his
hypotension?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Hyperthermia
E. Hemorrhagic shock - Answer-✅E
/.Compared with adults, children have:
A. A longer, wider, funnel-shaped airway
B. A less pliable, calcified skeleton
C. Greater mobility of mediastinal structures
D. A relatively smaller head and larger jaw
E. Anterior displacement of C5 on C6 - Answer-✅C
/.Which one of the findings below requires a definitive airway in trauma patients?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Partial thickness facial burns, cough, and hoarseness
D. Sternal fracture
E. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 - Answer-✅C
/.In a patient with spinal cord injury, sacral sparing:
A. Refers to a fracture of the sacrum
B. Is part of the spinal shock syndrome
C. Is a good prognostic sign
D. Indicates a complete spinal cord injury
E. Occurs only with complete transection of the lumbosacral spinal cord - Answer-✅C
/.A 22-year-old woman falls while skiing. She is evaluated at a small community hospital
that does not have neurological services. Spinal motion is restricted, supplemental
oxygen by mask is administered, and two antecubital IVs are placed. Her Glascow
Coma Scale score is 12, pupils are equal, blood pressure is 135/76 mmHg, heart rate is
105, and respiratory rate is 19. Chest x-ray is normal. This patient's management
priorities are:
A. Repeat primary survey and transfer to a trauma center
B. Definitive airway, CT of the head, and intracranial pressure monitor
Correct Answers
/. A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automobile, is admitted to the emergency
department 1 hour after injury. His blood pressure is 80/60 mmHg, heart rate 140 beats
per minute and respiratory rate is 36 per minute. He is lethargic. Oxygen is delivered via
face mask, and two large-caliber IVs are initiated. Arterial blood gases are obtained. His
PaO2 is 118 mmHg, PaCO2 is 30 mmHg, and pH is 7.21. The treatment of his acid-
base disorder is best accomplished by:
A. Hyperventilation
B. Restoration of normal perfusion
C. Initiation of low-dose dopamine
D. Administration of sodium bicarbonate
E. Initiation of phenylepinephrine infusion - Answer-✅B
/.The highest priority in managing a patient whose injuries include closed extremity
fractures is:
A. Assessing limb perfusion
B. Preventing necrosis of the skin
C. Decompressing compartment syndrome
D. Addressing respiratory insufficiency
E. Identifying crush syndrome - Answer-✅D
/.A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle crash is brought to the emergency
department. She is talking, but her voice is hoarse and on exposure she has diagonal
bruising of the chest and anterior neck. What is the next step?
A. Direct laryngoscopy to exclude laryngeal trauma
B. Oxygen by non-rebreathing mask
C. Protecting the spine by making her lie down
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger - Answer-✅B
/.A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the right lower chest, midway
between the nipple and the costal margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hospital that
has full surgical capabilities. In the emergency department he is endotracheally
intubated, fluid resuscitation is initiated through two large-caliber IV lines, and a closed
tube thoracostomy is performed, with the return of 200 ml of blood. A chest x- ray
reveals correct placement of the chest tube and a small residual hemothorax. His blood
pressure is now 70/0 mmHg, and his heart rate is 140 beats per minute. His
hypotension is most likely due to:
A. Tension pneumothorax
B. Massive hemothorax
, C. Pericardial tamponade
D. Intraabdominal bleeding
E. Insufficient isotonic crystalloid infusion - Answer-✅D
/.A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash after having ridden for hours on
a very hot day. When he arrives in the emergency department, he shouts that he cannot
move his legs. On physical examination, there are no abnormalities of the chest,
abdomen, or pelvis. The patient has no sensation in his legs and cannot move them, but
his arms are moving. The patient's respiratory rate is 22, heart rate is 88, and blood
pressure is 80/60 mmHg. He is pale and sweaty. What is the most likely cause of his
hypotension?
A. Neurogenic shock
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Hyperthermia
E. Hemorrhagic shock - Answer-✅E
/.Compared with adults, children have:
A. A longer, wider, funnel-shaped airway
B. A less pliable, calcified skeleton
C. Greater mobility of mediastinal structures
D. A relatively smaller head and larger jaw
E. Anterior displacement of C5 on C6 - Answer-✅C
/.Which one of the findings below requires a definitive airway in trauma patients?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Partial thickness facial burns, cough, and hoarseness
D. Sternal fracture
E. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 - Answer-✅C
/.In a patient with spinal cord injury, sacral sparing:
A. Refers to a fracture of the sacrum
B. Is part of the spinal shock syndrome
C. Is a good prognostic sign
D. Indicates a complete spinal cord injury
E. Occurs only with complete transection of the lumbosacral spinal cord - Answer-✅C
/.A 22-year-old woman falls while skiing. She is evaluated at a small community hospital
that does not have neurological services. Spinal motion is restricted, supplemental
oxygen by mask is administered, and two antecubital IVs are placed. Her Glascow
Coma Scale score is 12, pupils are equal, blood pressure is 135/76 mmHg, heart rate is
105, and respiratory rate is 19. Chest x-ray is normal. This patient's management
priorities are:
A. Repeat primary survey and transfer to a trauma center
B. Definitive airway, CT of the head, and intracranial pressure monitor
