ATLS PRE-TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024/2025
A 22-year-
old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His blood press ure is initially 80/40 mm Hg.
After initial fluid resuscitation his bloodSpressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per minute and his
respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minut
e. A tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a sma ll amount of blood and no air
leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is: - correct answer-- *Re-examine the chest*
- Perform an aortogram
- Obtain a CT scan of the chest
- Obtain ABG analysis
- Transesophageal echocardiography
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. I n the emergency department,
he is alert, vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pai n in both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses
are strong and there is no other deformi ty. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed by: - correct answer-- complete
spine x- ray series
Which of the following is trueSregarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? - correct answer--
A patient with a torso gunshot wound and hypotension should receive crystalloid fluid resuscitatio n until the blood pressure is
normal
-
* Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale score on
reevaluation*
-
Massive transfusion is defined as transfusion of more than 10 units of packedSred blood cells and pl asma within 24 hours
- When tranexamic acid is administered by pre-
hospital providers, a second dose is required within 24 hours
- Fluid resuscitation is far more important than bleeding control in trauma patient
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial step is to: - correct answer-- Secure the airway
, ATLS PRE-TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024/2025
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? - correct
answer-- His pulse pressure will be widened.
- His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal. xxx
- He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure.
- *An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 andS-10 mEq/L.*
- His systolic blood pressure will beSmaintained with an elevated diastolic pressure.
TheSphysiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the management of the sev erely injured, gravid woman
by: - correct answer--
increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
TheSbest assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn patient is: - correct answer-- urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
TheSdiagnosis of shock must include: - correct 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: - correct answer-- direct pressure on
the wound
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia should be avoided to prev ent: - correct answer--
respiratory acidosis xxx
- metabolic acidosis
- *Cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion*
- neurogenic pulmonary edema
- shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
After being involved in aSmotor vehicle crash, a 25-year-
old man is brought to a hospital that has surgery capabilities available. Computed tomography of t he chest and abdomen shows
an aortic injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid. His bloodSpressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step
is: - correct answer--
perform an exploratory laparotomy
A 22-year-
old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His blood press ure is initially 80/40 mm Hg.
After initial fluid resuscitation his bloodSpressure increases to 122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per minute and his
respiratory rate is 28 breaths per minut
e. A tube thoracostomy is performed for decreased left chest breath sounds with the return of a sma ll amount of blood and no air
leak. After chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step is: - correct answer-- *Re-examine the chest*
- Perform an aortogram
- Obtain a CT scan of the chest
- Obtain ABG analysis
- Transesophageal echocardiography
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. I n the emergency department,
he is alert, vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pai n in both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses
are strong and there is no other deformi ty. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed by: - correct answer-- complete
spine x- ray series
Which of the following is trueSregarding the initial resuscitation of a trauma patient? - correct answer--
A patient with a torso gunshot wound and hypotension should receive crystalloid fluid resuscitatio n until the blood pressure is
normal
-
* Evidence of improved perfusion after fluid resuscitation could include improvement in Glasgow Coma Scale score on
reevaluation*
-
Massive transfusion is defined as transfusion of more than 10 units of packedSred blood cells and pl asma within 24 hours
- When tranexamic acid is administered by pre-
hospital providers, a second dose is required within 24 hours
- Fluid resuscitation is far more important than bleeding control in trauma patient
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain injury, the most important initial step is to: - correct answer-- Secure the airway
, ATLS PRE-TEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024/2025
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? - correct
answer-- His pulse pressure will be widened.
- His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal. xxx
- He will have tachycardia, but no change in his systolic blood pressure.
- *An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit between -6 andS-10 mEq/L.*
- His systolic blood pressure will beSmaintained with an elevated diastolic pressure.
TheSphysiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical significance in the management of the sev erely injured, gravid woman
by: - correct answer--
increasing the volume of blood loss to produce maternal hypotension.
TheSbest assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn patient is: - correct answer-- urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
TheSdiagnosis of shock must include: - correct 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: - correct answer-- direct pressure on
the wound
For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia should be avoided to prev ent: - correct answer--
respiratory acidosis xxx
- metabolic acidosis
- *Cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion*
- neurogenic pulmonary edema
- shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
After being involved in aSmotor vehicle crash, a 25-year-
old man is brought to a hospital that has surgery capabilities available. Computed tomography of t he chest and abdomen shows
an aortic injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid. His bloodSpressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step
is: - correct answer--
perform an exploratory laparotomy
