2026 ATLS LATEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun
wound to the left shoulder. His blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm
Hg. After 2 liters of crystalloid solution his blood pressure increases
to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per minute and his
respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute. His breath sounds are
decreased in the left hemithorax, and after initial IV fluid
resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased
left breath sounds with the return of a small amount of blood and no
air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is:
a) reexamine the chest.
b) perform an aortogram.
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest.
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses --SOLUTION--a) reexamine
the chest
Which one of the following physical findings suggests a cause of
hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
a) priapism.
b) bradycardia.
c) diaphragmatic breathing.
d) presence of deep tendon reflexes. --SOLUTION--d)
presence of deep tendon reflexes.
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains
bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is
alert, vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in
both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses are strong
and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most
likely to be confirmed by:
a) compartment pressures
b) retrograde urethrogram
c) Doppler-ultrasound studies
d) complete spine x-ray series --SOLUTION--d) complete spine x-ray
series
In managing the head-injured patient (client), the most important initial
step is to:
,a) obtain c-spine film.
b) secure the airway.
c) support the circulation.
d) control scalp hemorrhage. --SOLUTION--b) secure the airway.
,A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated
acute blood loss of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements
applies to this patient (client)?
a) His pulse pressure will be widened.
b) His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal.
c) He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood
pressure.
d) His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed
pulse pressure. --SOLUTION--d) His systolic blood pressure will
be decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
The physiologic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance
in the management of the severely injured, gravid woman by:
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion.
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema.
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal
hypotension.
d) complicating the mangement of closed head injury. --
SOLUTION--c) increasing the volume of blood loss to
produce maternal hypotension.
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the burn patient (client) is:
a) adequate urinary output.
b) reversal of systemic acidosis.
c) normalization of the heart rate.
d) a normal central venous pressure. --SOLUTION--a) adequate urinary
output.
The diagnosis of shock must include:
a) increased vascular resistance.
b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
c) acidosis.
d) hypoxemia. --SOLUTION--b) evidence of inadequate organ
perfusion.
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his
parents several minutes after he fell through a window. He is
bleeding profusely from a 6-cm wound of his medial right thigh.
Immediate management of the wound should consist of:
a) application of a tourniquet.
b) direct pressure on the wound.
c) packing the wound with gauze.
d) direct pressure on the femoral artery at the groin. -
-SOLUTION--b) direct pressure on the wound.
, For the patient (client) with severe traumatic brain injury, profound
hypocarbia should be avoided to prevent:
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECTLY
VERIFIED ANSWERS
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun
wound to the left shoulder. His blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm
Hg. After 2 liters of crystalloid solution his blood pressure increases
to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per minute and his
respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute. His breath sounds are
decreased in the left hemithorax, and after initial IV fluid
resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased
left breath sounds with the return of a small amount of blood and no
air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is:
a) reexamine the chest.
b) perform an aortogram.
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest.
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses --SOLUTION--a) reexamine
the chest
Which one of the following physical findings suggests a cause of
hypotension other than spinal cord injury?
a) priapism.
b) bradycardia.
c) diaphragmatic breathing.
d) presence of deep tendon reflexes. --SOLUTION--d)
presence of deep tendon reflexes.
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains
bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is
alert, vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in
both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses are strong
and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most
likely to be confirmed by:
a) compartment pressures
b) retrograde urethrogram
c) Doppler-ultrasound studies
d) complete spine x-ray series --SOLUTION--d) complete spine x-ray
series
In managing the head-injured patient (client), the most important initial
step is to:
,a) obtain c-spine film.
b) secure the airway.
c) support the circulation.
d) control scalp hemorrhage. --SOLUTION--b) secure the airway.
,A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated
acute blood loss of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements
applies to this patient (client)?
a) His pulse pressure will be widened.
b) His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal.
c) He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood
pressure.
d) His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed
pulse pressure. --SOLUTION--d) His systolic blood pressure will
be decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
The physiologic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance
in the management of the severely injured, gravid woman by:
a) reducing the need for blood transfusion.
b) increasing the risk of pulmonary edema.
c) increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal
hypotension.
d) complicating the mangement of closed head injury. --
SOLUTION--c) increasing the volume of blood loss to
produce maternal hypotension.
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the burn patient (client) is:
a) adequate urinary output.
b) reversal of systemic acidosis.
c) normalization of the heart rate.
d) a normal central venous pressure. --SOLUTION--a) adequate urinary
output.
The diagnosis of shock must include:
a) increased vascular resistance.
b) evidence of inadequate organ perfusion.
c) acidosis.
d) hypoxemia. --SOLUTION--b) evidence of inadequate organ
perfusion.
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his
parents several minutes after he fell through a window. He is
bleeding profusely from a 6-cm wound of his medial right thigh.
Immediate management of the wound should consist of:
a) application of a tourniquet.
b) direct pressure on the wound.
c) packing the wound with gauze.
d) direct pressure on the femoral artery at the groin. -
-SOLUTION--b) direct pressure on the wound.
, For the patient (client) with severe traumatic brain injury, profound
hypocarbia should be avoided to prevent:
