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TCAR POST-TEST EXAM questions and
answers 2025\2026 update
1. Helmets and automobile airbags work because they
prevent blows to the head.
reduce acceleration injuries.
increase deceleration speed.
add deceleration distance. - ANSWER: reduce acceleration injuries.
2. Which of the following statements best describes knife wounds? Their velocity
is _____, the temporary cavity _____, and damage _____.
low; depends on the size of the knife; is usually extensive
low; is insignificant; is limited to structures directly in object's path
high; will be small; affects structures at some distance from the wound tract
high; may be massive; results in widespread tissue destruction - ANSWER: low;
is insignificant; is limited to structures directly in object's path
4. Injury to which body structure is commonly a DELAYED finding in the blast
trauma patient?
Heart
Bladder
Bowel
Spleen - ANSWER: Bowel
5. Shock occurs when
the sodium-potassium pump fails.
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ATP levels are less than lactic acid levels.
cellular oxygen demand is greater than supply.
aerobic metabolism exceeds anaerobic metabolism. - ANSWER: cellular oxygen
demand is greater than supply.
6. _____ shock is the most common type of shock immediately after traumatic
injury.
Distributive Septic Cardiogenic Hypovolemic - ANSWER: Hypovolemic
7. Which findings suggest a trauma patient is experiencing cardiogenic shock?
Bradycardia, cyanosis, and elevated mean arterial pressure
High shock index, mottling, and hypotension
Tachycardia, flushing, and widened pulse pressure
Pallor, course breath sounds, and hypertension - ANSWER: High shock index,
mottling, and hypotension
8. A multisystem trauma patient has become progressively tachycardic and
hypotensive one week after hospital admission. Pulse pressure is wide. The most
likely explanation for this finding is
dehydration.
fat embolism syndrome.
surgical site bleeding.
sepsis. - ANSWER: sepsis.
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9. Normalizing a trauma patient's body temperature helps control bleeding because
hypothermia
produces shivering and makes platelets hyperactive.
causes platelet dysfunction and clotting system failure.
stimulates the clotting cascade and reduces blood pressure.
increases tissue oxygen consumption and cold diuresis. - ANSWER: causes
platelet dysfunction and clotting system failure.
10. What are the 3 components of the "trauma triad of death"?
Coagulopathy, hypothermia, and acidosis
Hypothermia, alkalosis, and coagulopathy
Alkalosis, hyperthermia, and tissue injury
Tissue injury, hyperthermia, and acidosis - ANSWER: Coagulopathy,
hypothermia, and acidosis
11. Compensatory responses to hypovolemic shock include
vasoconstriction, tachycardia, and oliguria.
immune system activation, water retention, and bradycardia.
tachycardia, diuresis, and hypoglycemia.
fluid shifts, histamine release, and increased urine output. - ANSWER:
vasoconstriction, tachycardia, and oliguria.
12. What four factors determine a patient's cardiac output?
TCAR POST-TEST EXAM questions and
answers 2025\2026 update
1. Helmets and automobile airbags work because they
prevent blows to the head.
reduce acceleration injuries.
increase deceleration speed.
add deceleration distance. - ANSWER: reduce acceleration injuries.
2. Which of the following statements best describes knife wounds? Their velocity
is _____, the temporary cavity _____, and damage _____.
low; depends on the size of the knife; is usually extensive
low; is insignificant; is limited to structures directly in object's path
high; will be small; affects structures at some distance from the wound tract
high; may be massive; results in widespread tissue destruction - ANSWER: low;
is insignificant; is limited to structures directly in object's path
4. Injury to which body structure is commonly a DELAYED finding in the blast
trauma patient?
Heart
Bladder
Bowel
Spleen - ANSWER: Bowel
5. Shock occurs when
the sodium-potassium pump fails.
,2|Page
ATP levels are less than lactic acid levels.
cellular oxygen demand is greater than supply.
aerobic metabolism exceeds anaerobic metabolism. - ANSWER: cellular oxygen
demand is greater than supply.
6. _____ shock is the most common type of shock immediately after traumatic
injury.
Distributive Septic Cardiogenic Hypovolemic - ANSWER: Hypovolemic
7. Which findings suggest a trauma patient is experiencing cardiogenic shock?
Bradycardia, cyanosis, and elevated mean arterial pressure
High shock index, mottling, and hypotension
Tachycardia, flushing, and widened pulse pressure
Pallor, course breath sounds, and hypertension - ANSWER: High shock index,
mottling, and hypotension
8. A multisystem trauma patient has become progressively tachycardic and
hypotensive one week after hospital admission. Pulse pressure is wide. The most
likely explanation for this finding is
dehydration.
fat embolism syndrome.
surgical site bleeding.
sepsis. - ANSWER: sepsis.
, 3|Page
9. Normalizing a trauma patient's body temperature helps control bleeding because
hypothermia
produces shivering and makes platelets hyperactive.
causes platelet dysfunction and clotting system failure.
stimulates the clotting cascade and reduces blood pressure.
increases tissue oxygen consumption and cold diuresis. - ANSWER: causes
platelet dysfunction and clotting system failure.
10. What are the 3 components of the "trauma triad of death"?
Coagulopathy, hypothermia, and acidosis
Hypothermia, alkalosis, and coagulopathy
Alkalosis, hyperthermia, and tissue injury
Tissue injury, hyperthermia, and acidosis - ANSWER: Coagulopathy,
hypothermia, and acidosis
11. Compensatory responses to hypovolemic shock include
vasoconstriction, tachycardia, and oliguria.
immune system activation, water retention, and bradycardia.
tachycardia, diuresis, and hypoglycemia.
fluid shifts, histamine release, and increased urine output. - ANSWER:
vasoconstriction, tachycardia, and oliguria.
12. What four factors determine a patient's cardiac output?
