ATLS PostTest ActualQuestionswithVerified
Answers(2025/ 2026),100%GuaranteeScore
Pass, Graded A+
A 22 yearold maleis broughtby ambulanceto a small communityhospitalafterfalling from the topof
an 8 footladder.Initially, he wasfoundto havea largeright pneumothorax.A chesttube was inserted
and connected to an underwater seal drainage collection system with negative pressure. A repeat CXR
demonstrates a residual, large right pneumothorax. After transferring the patient to a verified trauma
center, a third chest-ray
x reveals a persistent right
pneumothorax.The chest tube appearsto be functioning and in good position. He remains
hemodynamicallynormal with no signs of respiratorydistress.The most likely cause for the
persistent right pneumothorax is:
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmaticinjury
C. Pulmonarycontusion
D. Esophagealperforation
E. Tracheobronchialinjury - ANSWER E. Tracheobronchialinjury
Which of thefollowingis LEAST reliablefor diagnosingESOPHAGEAL intubation?
A. symmetricalchestwallmovement
B. end-tidalCO2
C. bilateralbreathsounds
D. oxygensaturation>92%
E. ETT abovecarinaon chestx-ray - ANSWER D. oxygensaturation>92%
-> if it saysESOPHAGEAL, go withthis answer
Which of thefollowingsigns necessitatestheneedfor a definitiveairwayin severetraumapatient?
,A. faciallacerations
B. repeatedvomiting
C. severemaxillofacialtrauma
D. sternalfracture
E. GCS 12 - ANSWER C. Severemaxillofacialtrauma
Twentysevenpeopleareseverelyinjuredin an aircraftcrashat a localairport.The principlesof triage
include:
A. establisha triagesitewithintheinternalperimeterof thecrashsite
B. treatonly themostseverelyinjuredpatientsfirst
C. immediatelytransportall patientsto thenearesthospital
D. treatthegreatestnumberof patientsin theshortestperiodof time
E. producethegreatestnumberof survivorsbasedon availableresources- ANSWER E. Producethe
greatest number of survivors based on available resources
Which of thefollowingstatementsarecorrect?
A. Cerebralcontusionsmaycoalesceto form an intracerebralhematoma
B. Epidural hematomasareusuallyseenin thefrontalregion
C. Subduralhematomasare causedby injury to themiddlemeningealartery
D. Subduralhematomastypicallyhavea lenticularshapeon CT
E. The associatedbrain damageis moreseverein epiduralhematomas- ANSWER A. Cerebral
contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural,middlemeningeal SuB:
Subdural, Bridging veins
An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after being shot. He has one bullet wound just below
right the
clavicleand anotherjust belowthecostalmargin in theright posterioraxillaryline. His
,bloodpressureis 110/60,heartrateof 90, and respiratoryrateof 34.After ensuringa patent airway and
inserting 2 large caliber IV lines, the next most appropriate step is to:
A. Obtaina portablechestx-ray
B. Administera bolusof additionalIV fluid
C. Performa laparatomy
D. Obtainan abdominalCT scan
E. Performdiagnosticperitoneallavage- ANSWER A. Obtaina portablechestx-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
Which of thefollowingshouldbeperformedFIRST in anypatientwhoseinjuriesmayinclude multiple
closed extremity fractures?
A. A thoroughassessmentof four limb perfusion
B. Manueversto preventnecrosisof theskin
C. Extremitycompartmentsyndromerelease
D. Ensuring adequateoxygenationand ventilation
E. Evaluationfor occultcrush syndrome- ANSWER D. Ensuring adequateoxygenationand
ventilation
(ABC's)
A 22 yearold malesustainsa shotgunwoundto theshoulderand chestat closerange.His BP is 80/40
and HR 130. After 2 L of crystalloid solution are rapidly infused, his BP increases to
122/84and HR decreasesto 100.He is tachypneicwithRR of 28.On PE, his breathsoundsare
decreased at the left upper chest with dullness on percussion. A large caliber tube
thoracostomyis insertedinto thefifth intercostalspacewiththereturnof 200mL of bloodand no air
leak. The most appropriate next step is:
A. Insert a foleycatheter
B. Begin to transfuseO negativeblood
C. Performthoracotomy
, D. Obtaina CT Chest/Abd
E. Repeatthephysicalexamof thechest- ANSWER E. Repeatthephysicalexamof thechest
decreasedbreathsoundsw/dullness-> hemothorax,needtubeto drain vs.
decreased/absent
breathsoundsw/hyperresonance
-> tensionpneumonia,needneedle decompression
followed by tube
Which oneof thefollowingstatementsconcerningspineand spinalcord traumais TRUE?
A. A normallateralC spinefilm excludesinjury
B. A vertebralinjury is unlikelyin theabsenceof physicalfindingsof a cord injury
C. A patientwitha suspectedspineinjury requiresimmobilizationon a shortspine
D. Diaphragmaticbreathingin an unconsciouspatientwhohasfallenis a sign of spineinjury
E. Determinationof whethera spinal cord lesion is completeor incompletemust be made in the
primary survey - ANSWER B. A vertebralinjury is unlikely in the absenceof physical findingsof a
cord injury
A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6 feet fall onto concrete. She is unresponsive
and
foundto havea RR of 32, BP of 90/60,and HR of 68.The FIRST stepin treatment is:
A. Administeringvasopressors
B. EstablishingIV accessfor drug-assistedintubation
C. Seekingthecauseof her decreasedlevelof consciousness
D. Applyingoxygenandmaintainingairway
E. Excluding hemorrhageas a causeof shock- ANSWER D. Applying oxygenand maintaining
airway
First = ABCs
Answers(2025/ 2026),100%GuaranteeScore
Pass, Graded A+
A 22 yearold maleis broughtby ambulanceto a small communityhospitalafterfalling from the topof
an 8 footladder.Initially, he wasfoundto havea largeright pneumothorax.A chesttube was inserted
and connected to an underwater seal drainage collection system with negative pressure. A repeat CXR
demonstrates a residual, large right pneumothorax. After transferring the patient to a verified trauma
center, a third chest-ray
x reveals a persistent right
pneumothorax.The chest tube appearsto be functioning and in good position. He remains
hemodynamicallynormal with no signs of respiratorydistress.The most likely cause for the
persistent right pneumothorax is:
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmaticinjury
C. Pulmonarycontusion
D. Esophagealperforation
E. Tracheobronchialinjury - ANSWER E. Tracheobronchialinjury
Which of thefollowingis LEAST reliablefor diagnosingESOPHAGEAL intubation?
A. symmetricalchestwallmovement
B. end-tidalCO2
C. bilateralbreathsounds
D. oxygensaturation>92%
E. ETT abovecarinaon chestx-ray - ANSWER D. oxygensaturation>92%
-> if it saysESOPHAGEAL, go withthis answer
Which of thefollowingsigns necessitatestheneedfor a definitiveairwayin severetraumapatient?
,A. faciallacerations
B. repeatedvomiting
C. severemaxillofacialtrauma
D. sternalfracture
E. GCS 12 - ANSWER C. Severemaxillofacialtrauma
Twentysevenpeopleareseverelyinjuredin an aircraftcrashat a localairport.The principlesof triage
include:
A. establisha triagesitewithintheinternalperimeterof thecrashsite
B. treatonly themostseverelyinjuredpatientsfirst
C. immediatelytransportall patientsto thenearesthospital
D. treatthegreatestnumberof patientsin theshortestperiodof time
E. producethegreatestnumberof survivorsbasedon availableresources- ANSWER E. Producethe
greatest number of survivors based on available resources
Which of thefollowingstatementsarecorrect?
A. Cerebralcontusionsmaycoalesceto form an intracerebralhematoma
B. Epidural hematomasareusuallyseenin thefrontalregion
C. Subduralhematomasare causedby injury to themiddlemeningealartery
D. Subduralhematomastypicallyhavea lenticularshapeon CT
E. The associatedbrain damageis moreseverein epiduralhematomas- ANSWER A. Cerebral
contusions may coalesce to form an intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural,middlemeningeal SuB:
Subdural, Bridging veins
An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after being shot. He has one bullet wound just below
right the
clavicleand anotherjust belowthecostalmargin in theright posterioraxillaryline. His
,bloodpressureis 110/60,heartrateof 90, and respiratoryrateof 34.After ensuringa patent airway and
inserting 2 large caliber IV lines, the next most appropriate step is to:
A. Obtaina portablechestx-ray
B. Administera bolusof additionalIV fluid
C. Performa laparatomy
D. Obtainan abdominalCT scan
E. Performdiagnosticperitoneallavage- ANSWER A. Obtaina portablechestx-ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
Which of thefollowingshouldbeperformedFIRST in anypatientwhoseinjuriesmayinclude multiple
closed extremity fractures?
A. A thoroughassessmentof four limb perfusion
B. Manueversto preventnecrosisof theskin
C. Extremitycompartmentsyndromerelease
D. Ensuring adequateoxygenationand ventilation
E. Evaluationfor occultcrush syndrome- ANSWER D. Ensuring adequateoxygenationand
ventilation
(ABC's)
A 22 yearold malesustainsa shotgunwoundto theshoulderand chestat closerange.His BP is 80/40
and HR 130. After 2 L of crystalloid solution are rapidly infused, his BP increases to
122/84and HR decreasesto 100.He is tachypneicwithRR of 28.On PE, his breathsoundsare
decreased at the left upper chest with dullness on percussion. A large caliber tube
thoracostomyis insertedinto thefifth intercostalspacewiththereturnof 200mL of bloodand no air
leak. The most appropriate next step is:
A. Insert a foleycatheter
B. Begin to transfuseO negativeblood
C. Performthoracotomy
, D. Obtaina CT Chest/Abd
E. Repeatthephysicalexamof thechest- ANSWER E. Repeatthephysicalexamof thechest
decreasedbreathsoundsw/dullness-> hemothorax,needtubeto drain vs.
decreased/absent
breathsoundsw/hyperresonance
-> tensionpneumonia,needneedle decompression
followed by tube
Which oneof thefollowingstatementsconcerningspineand spinalcord traumais TRUE?
A. A normallateralC spinefilm excludesinjury
B. A vertebralinjury is unlikelyin theabsenceof physicalfindingsof a cord injury
C. A patientwitha suspectedspineinjury requiresimmobilizationon a shortspine
D. Diaphragmaticbreathingin an unconsciouspatientwhohasfallenis a sign of spineinjury
E. Determinationof whethera spinal cord lesion is completeor incompletemust be made in the
primary survey - ANSWER B. A vertebralinjury is unlikely in the absenceof physical findingsof a
cord injury
A 17 year old female is brought to the ED following a 6 feet fall onto concrete. She is unresponsive
and
foundto havea RR of 32, BP of 90/60,and HR of 68.The FIRST stepin treatment is:
A. Administeringvasopressors
B. EstablishingIV accessfor drug-assistedintubation
C. Seekingthecauseof her decreasedlevelof consciousness
D. Applyingoxygenandmaintainingairway
E. Excluding hemorrhageas a causeof shock- ANSWER D. Applying oxygenand maintaining
airway
First = ABCs
