Trauma Exam Questions With Correct Answers
// // // // //
ATLS //emphasizes //the //ABCDE //mnemonic: //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Airway
*Breathing
*Circulation
*Disability
*Exposure
Verification /
/of /
/an /
/open /
/airway /
/and /
/acceptable /
/respiratory /
/mechanics /
/is /
/of /
/primary /
/importance /
/because... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔hypoxia //is //the //most //immediate //threat //to //life.
Inability /
/to /
/oxygenate /
/the /
/patient /
/will /
/lead /
/to /
/permanent... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔brain //injury //and //death //within //5 //to //10 //minutes.
,Trauma /
/patients /
/are /
/at //risk //for... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔airway //obstruction //and //inadequate //respiration
Airway /
/Obstruction: /
/Causes //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Direct //injury //to //the //face, //mandible, //or //neck //
*Hemorrhage //in //the //nasopharynx, //sinuses, //mouth, //or //upper //airway //
*Diminished /
/consciousness //secondary //to //traumatic //brain //injury, //intoxication, //or //analgesic //medications
//
*Aspiration //of //gastric //contents //or //a //foreign //body //(e.g., //dentures)
*Misapplication //of //an //oral //airway //or //endotracheal //tube //(esophageal //intubation)
Inadequate /
/Ventilation: /
/Causes //- /
/CORRECT /
/ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Diminished /
/respiratory /
/drive /
/secondary //to //traumatic //brain //injury, //shock, //intoxication, //hypothermia, //or //oversedation //
*Direct //injury //to //the //trachea //or //bronchi //
*Pneumothorax //or //hemothorax //
*Chest //wall //injury //
*Aspiration //
*Pulmonary //contusion //
*Cervical //spine //injury //
*Bronchospasm //secondary //to //inhalation //of //smoke //or //toxic //gas
,Shock /
/is /
/presumed /
/to /
/result /
/from /
/hemorrhage /
/until... //- /
/CORRECT /
/ANSWERS(S)✔✔proved /
/otherwise. /
/Assessment /
/of /
/the /
/circulation /
/consists /
/of /
/an /
/early /
/phase, /
/during /
/active /
/hemorrhage, /
/and //
a/
/late /
/phase, /
/which /
/begins //when //hemostasis //is //achieved //and //continues //until //normal //physiology //is //restored.
Assessment //of //the //circulation //consists //of //an //early //phase, //during //active //hemorrhage, //and
//a /
/late //phase, //which //begins... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔when //hemostasis //is //achieved //and
//continues //until //normal //physiology //is //restored.
, Symptoms //of //Shock: //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Pallor //
*Diaphoresis //
*Agitation //or //obtundation //
*Hypotension //
*Tachycardia //
*Prolonged //capillary //refill //
*Diminished //urine //output //
*Narrowed //pulse //pressure
GCS: //Eye-Opening //Response //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔4 //= //Spontaneous //
3 //= //To //speech //
2 //= //To //pain //
1 //= //None
GCS: //Verbal //Response //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔5 //= //Oriented //to //name //
4 //= //Confused //
3 //= //Inappropriate //speech //
2 //= //Incomprehensible //sounds //
1 //= //None
GCS: //Motor //Response //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔6 //= //Follows //commands //
5 //= //Localizes //to //painful //stimuli //
4 //= //Withdraws //from //painful //stimuli //
3 //= //Abnormal //flexion //(decorticate //posturing) //
2 //= //Abnormal //extension //(decerebrate //posturing) //
1 //= //None
// // // // //
ATLS //emphasizes //the //ABCDE //mnemonic: //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Airway
*Breathing
*Circulation
*Disability
*Exposure
Verification /
/of /
/an /
/open /
/airway /
/and /
/acceptable /
/respiratory /
/mechanics /
/is /
/of /
/primary /
/importance /
/because... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔hypoxia //is //the //most //immediate //threat //to //life.
Inability /
/to /
/oxygenate /
/the /
/patient /
/will /
/lead /
/to /
/permanent... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔brain //injury //and //death //within //5 //to //10 //minutes.
,Trauma /
/patients /
/are /
/at //risk //for... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔airway //obstruction //and //inadequate //respiration
Airway /
/Obstruction: /
/Causes //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Direct //injury //to //the //face, //mandible, //or //neck //
*Hemorrhage //in //the //nasopharynx, //sinuses, //mouth, //or //upper //airway //
*Diminished /
/consciousness //secondary //to //traumatic //brain //injury, //intoxication, //or //analgesic //medications
//
*Aspiration //of //gastric //contents //or //a //foreign //body //(e.g., //dentures)
*Misapplication //of //an //oral //airway //or //endotracheal //tube //(esophageal //intubation)
Inadequate /
/Ventilation: /
/Causes //- /
/CORRECT /
/ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Diminished /
/respiratory /
/drive /
/secondary //to //traumatic //brain //injury, //shock, //intoxication, //hypothermia, //or //oversedation //
*Direct //injury //to //the //trachea //or //bronchi //
*Pneumothorax //or //hemothorax //
*Chest //wall //injury //
*Aspiration //
*Pulmonary //contusion //
*Cervical //spine //injury //
*Bronchospasm //secondary //to //inhalation //of //smoke //or //toxic //gas
,Shock /
/is /
/presumed /
/to /
/result /
/from /
/hemorrhage /
/until... //- /
/CORRECT /
/ANSWERS(S)✔✔proved /
/otherwise. /
/Assessment /
/of /
/the /
/circulation /
/consists /
/of /
/an /
/early /
/phase, /
/during /
/active /
/hemorrhage, /
/and //
a/
/late /
/phase, /
/which /
/begins //when //hemostasis //is //achieved //and //continues //until //normal //physiology //is //restored.
Assessment //of //the //circulation //consists //of //an //early //phase, //during //active //hemorrhage, //and
//a /
/late //phase, //which //begins... //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔when //hemostasis //is //achieved //and
//continues //until //normal //physiology //is //restored.
, Symptoms //of //Shock: //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔*Pallor //
*Diaphoresis //
*Agitation //or //obtundation //
*Hypotension //
*Tachycardia //
*Prolonged //capillary //refill //
*Diminished //urine //output //
*Narrowed //pulse //pressure
GCS: //Eye-Opening //Response //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔4 //= //Spontaneous //
3 //= //To //speech //
2 //= //To //pain //
1 //= //None
GCS: //Verbal //Response //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔5 //= //Oriented //to //name //
4 //= //Confused //
3 //= //Inappropriate //speech //
2 //= //Incomprehensible //sounds //
1 //= //None
GCS: //Motor //Response //- //CORRECT //ANSWERS(S)✔✔6 //= //Follows //commands //
5 //= //Localizes //to //painful //stimuli //
4 //= //Withdraws //from //painful //stimuli //
3 //= //Abnormal //flexion //(decorticate //posturing) //
2 //= //Abnormal //extension //(decerebrate //posturing) //
1 //= //None
