ATLS Advanced Trauma Life Support Exam
2025/2026 Updated | Real Questions &
Correct Answers
Trauma and worldwide prevalence
18% of world's total diseases
Leading cause of death due to injury worldwide
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs)
____________ people die every minute due to injuries or violence
>9
5.8 million yearly from unintentional injury/violence
Blunt trauma: injury pattern
compressive/shearing forces
Acceleration/deceleration forces of blunt trauma
Stretching/tearing injuries to organs/vessels/ligaments/structural anchoring points
Direct/crush forces to organs/bones in blunt force trauma
Bruising
Rupture
Fractures
Fractures may do what to other structures?
Lacerate them
Examples of blunt force trauma
Car accidents
Falls
Assaults
Penetrating trauma
,open wounds from:
gunshots, stabbings, explosion/blast injuries, impalements
Exploration of penetrating trauma
Local vs. OR exploration
Chest injuries inside cardiac box are most concerning (heart, lungs, great vessels, diaphragm)
Abd penetrating wounds that violate fascia = surgical
Removing a penetrating object
NEVER in the trauma bay
Gunshot wound: entry and exit
Never assume entry and exit wounds
Assume # bullet holes = number of bullets
ATLS
Advanced trauma life support
Revised every 4 years to keep up with changes
Safe, reliable, and systematic method for assessing and initially managing the trauma patient
Three underlying concepts of ATLS
Treat greatest threat to life first
Never allow lack of definitive diagnosis to impede application of an indicated treatment
Detailed history is not essential to begin eval of a patient with acute injury
Initial ATLS assessment and management
Preparation
Triage
Primary survey (ABCDE) with immediate resuscitation of patients with life-threatening injuries
Adjuncts to primary survey and resuscitation
, Consider need for transfer
Secondary survey (head-to-toe eval and history)
Adjuncts to the secondary survey
Continued post-resuscitation monitoring and re-evaluation
Definitive care
ATLS triage
Involves sorting patients based on resources required and those actually available
Based on ABC priorities
Multiple casualties
Number of patients and severity of injuries do not exceed capability of the facility to render care
Mass casualties
Number of patients and severity of injuries exceeds the capability of the facility to render care
Triage pre-hospital/in the field
Emphasis is placed on airway maintenance, control of external bleeding and shock,
immobilization of the patient, immediate transport to closest appropriate facility
Minimize scene time
Obtain pertinent history for triage (time of injury, events, mechanism, patient hx)
ATLS preparation of patient: hospital phase
Resuscitation area available
Properly functioning airway equipment available
Warmed IV fluids, appropriate monitoring devices
Protocols for laboratory, radiology, consulting services
Transfer agreements with verified trauma centers
ACS COT
2025/2026 Updated | Real Questions &
Correct Answers
Trauma and worldwide prevalence
18% of world's total diseases
Leading cause of death due to injury worldwide
Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs)
____________ people die every minute due to injuries or violence
>9
5.8 million yearly from unintentional injury/violence
Blunt trauma: injury pattern
compressive/shearing forces
Acceleration/deceleration forces of blunt trauma
Stretching/tearing injuries to organs/vessels/ligaments/structural anchoring points
Direct/crush forces to organs/bones in blunt force trauma
Bruising
Rupture
Fractures
Fractures may do what to other structures?
Lacerate them
Examples of blunt force trauma
Car accidents
Falls
Assaults
Penetrating trauma
,open wounds from:
gunshots, stabbings, explosion/blast injuries, impalements
Exploration of penetrating trauma
Local vs. OR exploration
Chest injuries inside cardiac box are most concerning (heart, lungs, great vessels, diaphragm)
Abd penetrating wounds that violate fascia = surgical
Removing a penetrating object
NEVER in the trauma bay
Gunshot wound: entry and exit
Never assume entry and exit wounds
Assume # bullet holes = number of bullets
ATLS
Advanced trauma life support
Revised every 4 years to keep up with changes
Safe, reliable, and systematic method for assessing and initially managing the trauma patient
Three underlying concepts of ATLS
Treat greatest threat to life first
Never allow lack of definitive diagnosis to impede application of an indicated treatment
Detailed history is not essential to begin eval of a patient with acute injury
Initial ATLS assessment and management
Preparation
Triage
Primary survey (ABCDE) with immediate resuscitation of patients with life-threatening injuries
Adjuncts to primary survey and resuscitation
, Consider need for transfer
Secondary survey (head-to-toe eval and history)
Adjuncts to the secondary survey
Continued post-resuscitation monitoring and re-evaluation
Definitive care
ATLS triage
Involves sorting patients based on resources required and those actually available
Based on ABC priorities
Multiple casualties
Number of patients and severity of injuries do not exceed capability of the facility to render care
Mass casualties
Number of patients and severity of injuries exceeds the capability of the facility to render care
Triage pre-hospital/in the field
Emphasis is placed on airway maintenance, control of external bleeding and shock,
immobilization of the patient, immediate transport to closest appropriate facility
Minimize scene time
Obtain pertinent history for triage (time of injury, events, mechanism, patient hx)
ATLS preparation of patient: hospital phase
Resuscitation area available
Properly functioning airway equipment available
Warmed IV fluids, appropriate monitoring devices
Protocols for laboratory, radiology, consulting services
Transfer agreements with verified trauma centers
ACS COT
