ATLS 10TH EDITION POST TEST
2 Questions and Answers
Latest (Verified Answers by
Expert)
1. A 22-year-old male falls from an 8-foot ladder.
He initially had a large right pneumothorax,
treated with chest tube placement. Despite proper
function of the tube, a repeat chest x-ray shows
persistent pneumothorax, and the patient remains
hemodynamically stable with no respiratory
distress. Most likely cause?
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmatic injury
C. Pulmonary contusion
D. Esophageal perforation
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Correct Answer E. Tracheobronchial injury
Explanation: Persistent pneumothorax despite a well-
,functioning chest tube suggests a bronchial injury
allowing ongoing air leak.
2. Which of the following is LEAST reliable for
confirming esophageal intubation?
A. Symmetrical chest wall movement
B. End-tidal CO₂ detection
C. Bilateral breath sounds
D. Oxygen saturation >92%
E. ETT above the carina on chest x-ray
Correct Answer D. Oxygen saturation >92%
Explanation: Oxygen saturation alone is unreliable for
confirming endotracheal placement; CO₂ detection and
chest x-ray are more specific.
3. Which sign most strongly indicates the need for
a definitive airway in a severely injured trauma
patient?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Severe maxillofacial trauma
,D. Sternal fracture
E. GCS 12
Correct Answer C. Severe maxillofacial trauma
Explanation: Severe facial trauma can obstruct the
airway, necessitating definitive airway management.
4. In a mass casualty incident, the principle of
triage is to:
A. Establish a triage site within the internal perimeter
B. Treat only the most severely injured first
C. Transport all patients immediately to the closest
hospital
D. Treat the greatest number of patients in the shortest
time
E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based on
resources
Correct Answer E. Produce the greatest number of
survivors based on resources
Explanation: Triage aims to maximize survival with
available resources.
, 5. Which statement is correct?
A. Cerebral contusions can coalesce into intracerebral
hematomas
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the occipital
region
C. Subdural hematomas result from middle meningeal
artery injury
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a lenticular shape
on CT
E. Brain damage is more severe in epidural hematomas
Correct Answer A. Cerebral contusions can
coalesce into intracerebral hematomas
Explanation: Contusions can develop into larger
intracerebral hematomas; epidural hematomas are often
in frontal regions, caused by middle meningeal artery
injury.
6. An 18-year-old male with gunshot wounds to the
right clavicle and posterior axillary line, BP 110/60,
HR 90, RR 34, is stable but has penetrating
thoracic trauma. Next step?
A. Obtain portable chest x-ray
2 Questions and Answers
Latest (Verified Answers by
Expert)
1. A 22-year-old male falls from an 8-foot ladder.
He initially had a large right pneumothorax,
treated with chest tube placement. Despite proper
function of the tube, a repeat chest x-ray shows
persistent pneumothorax, and the patient remains
hemodynamically stable with no respiratory
distress. Most likely cause?
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmatic injury
C. Pulmonary contusion
D. Esophageal perforation
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Correct Answer E. Tracheobronchial injury
Explanation: Persistent pneumothorax despite a well-
,functioning chest tube suggests a bronchial injury
allowing ongoing air leak.
2. Which of the following is LEAST reliable for
confirming esophageal intubation?
A. Symmetrical chest wall movement
B. End-tidal CO₂ detection
C. Bilateral breath sounds
D. Oxygen saturation >92%
E. ETT above the carina on chest x-ray
Correct Answer D. Oxygen saturation >92%
Explanation: Oxygen saturation alone is unreliable for
confirming endotracheal placement; CO₂ detection and
chest x-ray are more specific.
3. Which sign most strongly indicates the need for
a definitive airway in a severely injured trauma
patient?
A. Facial lacerations
B. Repeated vomiting
C. Severe maxillofacial trauma
,D. Sternal fracture
E. GCS 12
Correct Answer C. Severe maxillofacial trauma
Explanation: Severe facial trauma can obstruct the
airway, necessitating definitive airway management.
4. In a mass casualty incident, the principle of
triage is to:
A. Establish a triage site within the internal perimeter
B. Treat only the most severely injured first
C. Transport all patients immediately to the closest
hospital
D. Treat the greatest number of patients in the shortest
time
E. Produce the greatest number of survivors based on
resources
Correct Answer E. Produce the greatest number of
survivors based on resources
Explanation: Triage aims to maximize survival with
available resources.
, 5. Which statement is correct?
A. Cerebral contusions can coalesce into intracerebral
hematomas
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the occipital
region
C. Subdural hematomas result from middle meningeal
artery injury
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a lenticular shape
on CT
E. Brain damage is more severe in epidural hematomas
Correct Answer A. Cerebral contusions can
coalesce into intracerebral hematomas
Explanation: Contusions can develop into larger
intracerebral hematomas; epidural hematomas are often
in frontal regions, caused by middle meningeal artery
injury.
6. An 18-year-old male with gunshot wounds to the
right clavicle and posterior axillary line, BP 110/60,
HR 90, RR 34, is stable but has penetrating
thoracic trauma. Next step?
A. Obtain portable chest x-ray
