ATLS Post Test #2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_g4ofa1
1. A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automo- B
bile, 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
2. The highest priority in managing a patient whose in- D
juries 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
3. A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle B
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
, ATLS Post Test #2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_g4ofa1
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger
4. A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the D
right lower chest, midway between the nipple and the
costal margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hos-
pital that has full surgical capabilities. In the emer-
gency department he is endotracheally intubated, flu-
id 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 re-
veals 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
5. A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash E
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 pa-
tient'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
, ATLS Post Test #2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_g4ofa1
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Hyperthermia
E. Hemorrhagic shock
6. Compared with adults, children have: C
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
7. Which one of the findings below requires a definitive C
airway in trauma patients?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Partial thickness facial burns, cough, and hoarse-
ness
D. Sternal fracture
E. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12
8. In a patient with spinal cord injury, sacral sparing: C
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 lum-
bosacral spinal cord
9. A 22-year-old woman falls while skiing. She is evaluat- A
ed at a small community hospital that does not have
neurological services. Spinal motion is restricted, sup-
plemental oxygen by mask is administered, and two
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_g4ofa1
1. A 24 year old male pedestrian, struck by an automo- B
bile, 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
2. The highest priority in managing a patient whose in- D
juries 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
3. A 34-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle B
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
, ATLS Post Test #2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_g4ofa1
D. Palpation of the anterior neck
E. Attaching a pulse oximeter to her finger
4. A 30-year-old male sustains a gunshot wound to the D
right lower chest, midway between the nipple and the
costal margin. He is brought by ambulance to a hos-
pital that has full surgical capabilities. In the emer-
gency department he is endotracheally intubated, flu-
id 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 re-
veals 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
5. A 20-year-old athlete is involved in a motorcycle crash E
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 pa-
tient'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
, ATLS Post Test #2
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_g4ofa1
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Hyperthermia
E. Hemorrhagic shock
6. Compared with adults, children have: C
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
7. Which one of the findings below requires a definitive C
airway in trauma patients?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Partial thickness facial burns, cough, and hoarse-
ness
D. Sternal fracture
E. Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12
8. In a patient with spinal cord injury, sacral sparing: C
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 lum-
bosacral spinal cord
9. A 22-year-old woman falls while skiing. She is evaluat- A
ed at a small community hospital that does not have
neurological services. Spinal motion is restricted, sup-
plemental oxygen by mask is administered, and two
