ATLS PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH 100% CORRECTLY SOLVED
ANSWERS
Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic hemorrhage,
EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - Answer-D. Narrowed pulse pressure
Among the following, what is the most common cause of preventable trauma death in
the injured adult patient?
A. Airway obstruction
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Hemorrhagic shock
D. Spinal injury - Answer-C. Hemorrhagic shock
Which of the following is most typical of early, neurogenic shock?
A. Increased pulse, clammy skin
B. Increased pulse, warm and dry skin
C. Decreased pulse, clammy skin
D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry skin - Answer-D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry
skin (skin is warm due to vasodilation)
Which of the following is an acceptable location to insert a needle when decompressing
a
tension pneumothorax?
A. Directly under the bottom of the second rib, midclavicular line
B. Directly under the bottom of the third rib, midclavicular line
C. Directly over the top of the fourth rib, midaxillary line
D. Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line - Answer-D. Directly over the
top of the third rib, midclavicular line
What is the most common cause of cardiopulmonary arrest in the trauma patient?
A. Brain injury
B. Hypoxemia
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Ventricular arrhythmia - Answer-B. Hypoxemia
, A 49 year old man is involved in a motor vehicle collision. First responders are doing
CPR. Findings include a distended abdomen and obviously deformed pelvis and a quick
look at the monitor shows asystole. Which of the following is the most appropriate act?
A. Establish intravenous access and administer a 20mL/kg bolus
B. Establish intravenous access and administer a 1 liter bolus
C. Establish intravenous access and administer a 2-4 liter bolus
D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced dead -
Answer-D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced dead
Which of the following statements concerning treatment of shock in the pregnant, burn
patient is TRUE?
A. Oxygen should be used sparingly so as to avoid oxygen toxicity to the fetus
B. Pressor agents such as dopamine should be used to improve circulation to the fetus
C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger amounts to the pregnant,
burn patient
D. Volume replacement should be given more slowly so as to avoid fluid overloading the
fetus - Answer-C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger amounts to
the pregnant, burn patient
Which area of the spine is most susceptible to injury in a rear-impact motor vehicle
crash?
A. Cervical
B. Thoracic
C. Lumbar
D. Sacral-coccygeal - Answer-A. Cervical
A 23 year old female has won the "Let's-see-who-can-lean-the-farthest-backward-over-
the-second-story-balcony-railing contest. You arrive to find her boyfriend standing over
her, holding two beers, as she lies on the grass under the balcony. She opens her eyes
to voice, her skin is cool, clammy and ashen, respirations are rapid and shallow, radial
pulses are too rapid to count and thready. There is no external bleeding. She has flat
neck veins, a normal chest and abdomen and pelvis. Her boyfriend tells you that she
has some kind of heart problem but he doesn't know what. Placed on the monitor, she
shows a wide-complex tachycardia of about 280. What kind of shock is she suffering?
A. Hypovolemic shock
B. Relative hypovolemic (high-space) shock
C. Mechanical (obstructive) shock
D. Cardiogenic shock - Answer-D. Cardiogenic shock
Which of the following would be the most compelling reason to intubate a patient
immediately?
A. Snoring respirations
B. Gurgling respirations
C. Inability to ventilate (achieve chest rise)
D. Traumatic arrest - Answer-C. Inability to ventilate (achieve chest rise)
WITH 100% CORRECTLY SOLVED
ANSWERS
Which one of the following is typically associated with, post-traumatic hemorrhage,
EARLY shock?
A. Ventricular dysrhythmias
B. Hypotension
C. Loss of 30% to 45% of blood volume
D. Narrowed pulse pressure - Answer-D. Narrowed pulse pressure
Among the following, what is the most common cause of preventable trauma death in
the injured adult patient?
A. Airway obstruction
B. Cardiac tamponade
C. Hemorrhagic shock
D. Spinal injury - Answer-C. Hemorrhagic shock
Which of the following is most typical of early, neurogenic shock?
A. Increased pulse, clammy skin
B. Increased pulse, warm and dry skin
C. Decreased pulse, clammy skin
D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry skin - Answer-D. Decreased pulse, warm and dry
skin (skin is warm due to vasodilation)
Which of the following is an acceptable location to insert a needle when decompressing
a
tension pneumothorax?
A. Directly under the bottom of the second rib, midclavicular line
B. Directly under the bottom of the third rib, midclavicular line
C. Directly over the top of the fourth rib, midaxillary line
D. Directly over the top of the third rib, midclavicular line - Answer-D. Directly over the
top of the third rib, midclavicular line
What is the most common cause of cardiopulmonary arrest in the trauma patient?
A. Brain injury
B. Hypoxemia
C. Myocardial contusion
D. Ventricular arrhythmia - Answer-B. Hypoxemia
, A 49 year old man is involved in a motor vehicle collision. First responders are doing
CPR. Findings include a distended abdomen and obviously deformed pelvis and a quick
look at the monitor shows asystole. Which of the following is the most appropriate act?
A. Establish intravenous access and administer a 20mL/kg bolus
B. Establish intravenous access and administer a 1 liter bolus
C. Establish intravenous access and administer a 2-4 liter bolus
D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced dead -
Answer-D. Resuscitative efforts should not be started and the patient pronounced dead
Which of the following statements concerning treatment of shock in the pregnant, burn
patient is TRUE?
A. Oxygen should be used sparingly so as to avoid oxygen toxicity to the fetus
B. Pressor agents such as dopamine should be used to improve circulation to the fetus
C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger amounts to the pregnant,
burn patient
D. Volume replacement should be given more slowly so as to avoid fluid overloading the
fetus - Answer-C. Volume replacement should be given earlier and in larger amounts to
the pregnant, burn patient
Which area of the spine is most susceptible to injury in a rear-impact motor vehicle
crash?
A. Cervical
B. Thoracic
C. Lumbar
D. Sacral-coccygeal - Answer-A. Cervical
A 23 year old female has won the "Let's-see-who-can-lean-the-farthest-backward-over-
the-second-story-balcony-railing contest. You arrive to find her boyfriend standing over
her, holding two beers, as she lies on the grass under the balcony. She opens her eyes
to voice, her skin is cool, clammy and ashen, respirations are rapid and shallow, radial
pulses are too rapid to count and thready. There is no external bleeding. She has flat
neck veins, a normal chest and abdomen and pelvis. Her boyfriend tells you that she
has some kind of heart problem but he doesn't know what. Placed on the monitor, she
shows a wide-complex tachycardia of about 280. What kind of shock is she suffering?
A. Hypovolemic shock
B. Relative hypovolemic (high-space) shock
C. Mechanical (obstructive) shock
D. Cardiogenic shock - Answer-D. Cardiogenic shock
Which of the following would be the most compelling reason to intubate a patient
immediately?
A. Snoring respirations
B. Gurgling respirations
C. Inability to ventilate (achieve chest rise)
D. Traumatic arrest - Answer-C. Inability to ventilate (achieve chest rise)
