ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ The "A" in ABCD stands for ______. Answer: Airway maintenance
with Cervical SPINE protection
◉ You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an
altered level of consciousness or blunt injury above the clavice has what
type of injury. Answer: Cervical Spine Injury
◉ Flail chest is invariably accompanied by _______ which can interfere
with blood oxygenation. Answer: pulmonary contusion - do NOT over
fluid resuscitate these patients.
◉ Hypotension is caused by ______ until proven otherwise. Answer:
hypovolemia
◉ When you dont have a BP what are three things to look for when
evaluating perfusion?. Answer: 1. level of consciousness (brain
perfusion
2. Skin color (ashen face/grey extremities)
,3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy)
◉ Elderly patients have a limited ability to ___________ to compensate
for blood loss. Answer: increase heart rate
◉ Resuscitation fluids should be warmed to 39 Celsius. Answer: Only
for Cyrstalloids, NOT for blood
◉ Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume
status. List 5 signs of urethral injury that might precent you from
inserting one. Answer: Blood at urethral meatus, perineal ecchymosis,
blood in scrotum, high-riding/non-palpable prostate, pelvic fracture
◉ Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on?. Answer: The arm
with the BP cuff
◉ 2 anatomical things that can interfere. Answer: Obesity and
intraluminal bowel gas
◉ When should radiographs be obtained?. Answer: During the
Secondary survey!
◉ How do get an ample patient history?. Answer: Allergies
Medications
,PMH/Pregnancy
Last meal
Events/Environment
◉ Why might you want a Bair Hugger for a patient who smells of
Alcohol?. Answer: Vasodilation can lead to hypothermia
◉ What things are you looking for when you do a DRE in trauma.
Answer: Blood, high riding prostate, sphincter tone,
◉ What should be done for every female patient. Answer: Pregnancy
test
◉ Adult patients should maintain UOP of at least _____mL/kg/hr. Kids
should have at least ______ mL/kg/hr. Answer: Adults 0.5 mL/kg.hr
Kids 1.0 mL/kg/hr
◉ Preventing hypercarbia (hypercapnia) is critical in patients who have
sustained a _______ injury. Answer: head
◉ What two places would you LOOK at a patient if you suspect
hypoxemia?. Answer: Lips and fingernail beds
, ◉ Patients may be abusive and belligerent because of ______-, so don't
just assume its due to drugs, alcohol, or the fact they they are just
inherently a jerk. Answer: hypoxia
◉ Can a patient breath on their own after complete cervical cord
transection. Answer: Yes if the phrenic nerves (C3-C5 are spared. This
will result in 'abdominal' breathing. The intercostal muscles will be
paralyzed though
◉ Can you use an OPA (Guedel) in a conscious patient. Answer: No, it
could make them vomit. An NPA (trumpet) would be okay.
◉ Bougies are typically inserted blindly, how do you know you are in
the trachea and not the esophagus?. Answer: You can feel the clicks as
the distal tip rubs against the cartilaginous tracheal rings, or it will
deviate right or left when entering either bronchus (at 50 cm)
◉ What do yo NOT want to hear if you auscultate a patient after
placement of an ET tube?. Answer: Borborygmi - rumbling or gurgling
noices suggest esophageal insertion.
◉ What is the RSI dose for etomidate. Answer: 0.3 mg/kg (usually 20
mg)
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ The "A" in ABCD stands for ______. Answer: Airway maintenance
with Cervical SPINE protection
◉ You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an
altered level of consciousness or blunt injury above the clavice has what
type of injury. Answer: Cervical Spine Injury
◉ Flail chest is invariably accompanied by _______ which can interfere
with blood oxygenation. Answer: pulmonary contusion - do NOT over
fluid resuscitate these patients.
◉ Hypotension is caused by ______ until proven otherwise. Answer:
hypovolemia
◉ When you dont have a BP what are three things to look for when
evaluating perfusion?. Answer: 1. level of consciousness (brain
perfusion
2. Skin color (ashen face/grey extremities)
,3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy)
◉ Elderly patients have a limited ability to ___________ to compensate
for blood loss. Answer: increase heart rate
◉ Resuscitation fluids should be warmed to 39 Celsius. Answer: Only
for Cyrstalloids, NOT for blood
◉ Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume
status. List 5 signs of urethral injury that might precent you from
inserting one. Answer: Blood at urethral meatus, perineal ecchymosis,
blood in scrotum, high-riding/non-palpable prostate, pelvic fracture
◉ Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on?. Answer: The arm
with the BP cuff
◉ 2 anatomical things that can interfere. Answer: Obesity and
intraluminal bowel gas
◉ When should radiographs be obtained?. Answer: During the
Secondary survey!
◉ How do get an ample patient history?. Answer: Allergies
Medications
,PMH/Pregnancy
Last meal
Events/Environment
◉ Why might you want a Bair Hugger for a patient who smells of
Alcohol?. Answer: Vasodilation can lead to hypothermia
◉ What things are you looking for when you do a DRE in trauma.
Answer: Blood, high riding prostate, sphincter tone,
◉ What should be done for every female patient. Answer: Pregnancy
test
◉ Adult patients should maintain UOP of at least _____mL/kg/hr. Kids
should have at least ______ mL/kg/hr. Answer: Adults 0.5 mL/kg.hr
Kids 1.0 mL/kg/hr
◉ Preventing hypercarbia (hypercapnia) is critical in patients who have
sustained a _______ injury. Answer: head
◉ What two places would you LOOK at a patient if you suspect
hypoxemia?. Answer: Lips and fingernail beds
, ◉ Patients may be abusive and belligerent because of ______-, so don't
just assume its due to drugs, alcohol, or the fact they they are just
inherently a jerk. Answer: hypoxia
◉ Can a patient breath on their own after complete cervical cord
transection. Answer: Yes if the phrenic nerves (C3-C5 are spared. This
will result in 'abdominal' breathing. The intercostal muscles will be
paralyzed though
◉ Can you use an OPA (Guedel) in a conscious patient. Answer: No, it
could make them vomit. An NPA (trumpet) would be okay.
◉ Bougies are typically inserted blindly, how do you know you are in
the trachea and not the esophagus?. Answer: You can feel the clicks as
the distal tip rubs against the cartilaginous tracheal rings, or it will
deviate right or left when entering either bronchus (at 50 cm)
◉ What do yo NOT want to hear if you auscultate a patient after
placement of an ET tube?. Answer: Borborygmi - rumbling or gurgling
noices suggest esophageal insertion.
◉ What is the RSI dose for etomidate. Answer: 0.3 mg/kg (usually 20
mg)
