ATLS PRETEST EXAM 2024| WITH 325 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS|
GRADED A+
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun wound to the left
shoulder. His blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial fluid resuscitation
his blood pressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per
minute and his respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute. A tube thoracostomy is
performed for decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a small amount
of blood and no air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is:
- ANSWER re-examine the chest
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral
calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is alert, vital signs are normal,
and he is complaining of severe pain in both heels and his lower back. Lower
extremity pulses are strong and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnosis
is most likely to be confirmed by: - ANSWER complete spine x-ray series
Which of the following is true regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? -
ANSWER Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include
improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation.
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial
step is to: - ANSWER secure the airway
A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated acute blood loss
of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements applies to this patient? - ANSWER
An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L.
The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the
management of the severely injured, gravid woman by: - ANSWER increasing the
volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn patient is: - ANSWER
urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
The diagnosis of shock must include: - ANSWER evidence of inadequate organ
perfusion
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents several
minutes after he fell through a window. He is bleeding profusely from a 6-cm wound
of his medial right thigh. Immediate management of the wound should consist of: -
ANSWER direct pressure on the wound
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia should be
avoided to prevent: - ANSWER cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
, After being involved in a motor vehicle crash, a 25-year-old man is brought to a
hospital that has surgery capabilities available.. Computed tomography of the chest
and abdomen shows an aortic injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid.
His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step is: - ANSWER perform
an exploratory laparotomy
Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the pregnant
patient is TRUE? - ANSWER Leakage of amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital
admission.
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is: - ANSWER
administer supplemental oxygen
A 25-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted to the emergency
department. His pupils react sluggishly and his eyes open to pressure. He does not
follow commands, but he does moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and
does not respond to pressure; however, his left hand reaches purposefully toward
the stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS score is: - ANSWER 9
A 20-year-old woman who is at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper right
chest. In the emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is
gasping for breath, extremely anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are
diminished in the right chest. The most appropriate first step is to: - ANSWER
perform needle or finger decompression of the right chest
Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to require immediate
management during the primary survey? - ANSWER respiratory rate of 40 breaths
per minute
The most important, immediate step in the management of an open pneumothorax
is: - ANSWER placement of an occlusive dressing over the wound
The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid administration: - ANSWER
history of neurological reaction or severe hypersensitivity to the product
A 56-year-old man is thrown violently against the steering wheel of his truck during a
motor vehicle crash. On arrival in the emergency department he is diaphoretic and
complaining of chest pain. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his respiratory
rate is 40 breaths per minute. Which of the following best differentiates cardiac
tamponade from tension pneumothorax as the cause of his hypotension? - ANSWER
breath sounds
Bronchial intubation of the right or left mainstem bronchus can easily occur during
infant endotracheal intubation because: - ANSWER The trachea is relatively short.
A 23-year-old man sustains 4 stab wounds to the upper right chest during an
altercation and is brought by ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical
capabilities. His wounds are all above the nipple. He is endotracheally intubated,
closed tube thoracostomy is performed, fluid resuscitation is initiated through 2 large-
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS|
GRADED A+
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun wound to the left
shoulder. His blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial fluid resuscitation
his blood pressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per
minute and his respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minute. A tube thoracostomy is
performed for decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a small amount
of blood and no air leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is:
- ANSWER re-examine the chest
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral
calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is alert, vital signs are normal,
and he is complaining of severe pain in both heels and his lower back. Lower
extremity pulses are strong and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnosis
is most likely to be confirmed by: - ANSWER complete spine x-ray series
Which of the following is true regarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? -
ANSWER Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include
improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation.
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial
step is to: - ANSWER secure the airway
A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated acute blood loss
of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements applies to this patient? - ANSWER
An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 and -10 mEq/L.
The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the
management of the severely injured, gravid woman by: - ANSWER increasing the
volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn patient is: - ANSWER
urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
The diagnosis of shock must include: - ANSWER evidence of inadequate organ
perfusion
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents several
minutes after he fell through a window. He is bleeding profusely from a 6-cm wound
of his medial right thigh. Immediate management of the wound should consist of: -
ANSWER direct pressure on the wound
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia should be
avoided to prevent: - ANSWER cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
, After being involved in a motor vehicle crash, a 25-year-old man is brought to a
hospital that has surgery capabilities available.. Computed tomography of the chest
and abdomen shows an aortic injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid.
His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step is: - ANSWER perform
an exploratory laparotomy
Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the pregnant
patient is TRUE? - ANSWER Leakage of amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital
admission.
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is: - ANSWER
administer supplemental oxygen
A 25-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted to the emergency
department. His pupils react sluggishly and his eyes open to pressure. He does not
follow commands, but he does moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and
does not respond to pressure; however, his left hand reaches purposefully toward
the stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS score is: - ANSWER 9
A 20-year-old woman who is at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper right
chest. In the emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is
gasping for breath, extremely anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are
diminished in the right chest. The most appropriate first step is to: - ANSWER
perform needle or finger decompression of the right chest
Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to require immediate
management during the primary survey? - ANSWER respiratory rate of 40 breaths
per minute
The most important, immediate step in the management of an open pneumothorax
is: - ANSWER placement of an occlusive dressing over the wound
The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid administration: - ANSWER
history of neurological reaction or severe hypersensitivity to the product
A 56-year-old man is thrown violently against the steering wheel of his truck during a
motor vehicle crash. On arrival in the emergency department he is diaphoretic and
complaining of chest pain. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his respiratory
rate is 40 breaths per minute. Which of the following best differentiates cardiac
tamponade from tension pneumothorax as the cause of his hypotension? - ANSWER
breath sounds
Bronchial intubation of the right or left mainstem bronchus can easily occur during
infant endotracheal intubation because: - ANSWER The trachea is relatively short.
A 23-year-old man sustains 4 stab wounds to the upper right chest during an
altercation and is brought by ambulance to a hospital that has full surgical
capabilities. His wounds are all above the nipple. He is endotracheally intubated,
closed tube thoracostomy is performed, fluid resuscitation is initiated through 2 large-
