ATLS PRACTICE TEST EXAM 2026-2027 LATEST VERSION
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS JUST
RELEASED
A patient on a mechanical ventilator is fighting the machine, and has elevated peak airway pressures.
What medication should be used?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Vecuronium
C. Barbiturates
D. Baclofen - answer>>B. Vecuronium
What is the primary goal in the initial resuscitation of a cardiac arrest?
A. Renal perfusion
B. Limb perfusion
C. Myocardial perfusion
D. Brain perfusion - answer>>D. Brain perfusion
During an MVA, what is most likely injury to occur after knees strike the dashboard
A. Fractured femur
B. Fractured humerus
C. Lacerated spleen
D. None of the above - answer>>A. Fractured femur
Reason epinephrine is added to local anesthetics - answer>>Prolongs its action
Used to treat high ICP - answer>>Control BG
,Hyperventilation (pCO2 30-35)
Elevate head of bed
Mannitol (osmotic diuretic)
Furosemide (loop diur.)
Earliest symptom of local anesthetic toxicity - answer>>Tongue and circumoral numbness
A 18-year-old male sustains a right femur fracture and a cerebral concussion in a motor vehicle accident.
His initial blood pressure is 75/50 mmHg with a pulse of 90 beats per minute. After giving him 2 liters of
Ringer lactate he stabilizes, but the blood pressure falls when he is seen in the ER. Which of the
following would be the cause of suspected hypotension in this patient?
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Undiagnosed facial fracture
C. Ruptured spleen
D. 10% pneumothorax - answer>>C. Ruptured spleen
An unrestrained driver involved in a high speed MVA is transported by paramedics with c-spine
precautions. GCS score is 7, but there is no obvious trauma. Respirations are shallow, and BVM is not
providing adequate ventilation. Extremities are cool, and the pulses are thready. Prior to rapid sequence
intubation, what should be done?
A. Brief neurologic examination
B. Immediate chin lift and jaw thrust maneuver
C. Assess all vital signs
D. Administer 4-5 quick tidal volume breaths with an FIO2 of 100% using a bag mask ventilatory device -
answer>>D. Administer 4-5 quick tidal volume breaths with an FIO2 of 100% using a bag mask
ventilatory device
Which of the following is indicative of a kidney injury?
A. Ascites
,B. Flank tenderness
C. Hematuria
D. Hematemesis - answer>>C. Hematuria
Can occur during massive blood transfusions - answer>>-Dilutional thrombocytopenia
-Hypocalcemia
-Coagulation abnormalities
NOT hypokalemia
Which of the following most likely will result in a favorable outcome in pediatric drowning?
A. Spontaneous circulation established in the ER
B. Core temperature in the ER <33ºC C. Return of spontaneous circulation at the scene of the drowning
D. Reactive pupils at the scene of the drowning - answer>>C. Return of spontaneous circulation at the
scene of the drowning
Underlying pathophysiology of a decrease in urine output - answer>>Compromised organ perfusion
Which of the following clinical signs is the most worrisome in a patient whom elevation of ICP is a
concern?
A. Tachycardia
B. Asymmetric pupils
C. Hypothermia
D. Decreased blood pressure - answer>>B. Asymmetric pupils
Battle sign - answer>>(Mastoid ecchymosis)
, Etiology: fracture of middle cranial fossa of skull
Posterior auricular = artery that causes the bruising
A patient is on mechanical ventilator and his arterial blood gas reveals a PCO2 of 38 and a pH of 7.41.
What is the appropriate next step?
A. Increase oxygen
B. Observe
C. Increase rate
D. Increase tidal volume - answer>>B. Observe
A trauma patient is receiving fluids at 150 cc/hr. He received two units of blood because his initial
hemoglobin was 7.3 g. After 4 hours, his urine output is 7 cc/hr and his central venous pressure is 3 cm
of water. What is the next step in his management?
A. Start furosemide drip
B. Start dopamine at renal dose
C. Administer 500 cc of NS bolus over 1 hour
D. Decrease the rate of fluid administration - answer>>C. Administer 500 cc of NS bolus over 1 hour
A patient is placed on a heating blanket for hypothermia. It is most important to monitor which of the
following?
A. Vital signs
B. Neurologic status
C. Sensory deficits
D. Oxygenation - answer>>A. Vital signs
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS JUST
RELEASED
A patient on a mechanical ventilator is fighting the machine, and has elevated peak airway pressures.
What medication should be used?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Vecuronium
C. Barbiturates
D. Baclofen - answer>>B. Vecuronium
What is the primary goal in the initial resuscitation of a cardiac arrest?
A. Renal perfusion
B. Limb perfusion
C. Myocardial perfusion
D. Brain perfusion - answer>>D. Brain perfusion
During an MVA, what is most likely injury to occur after knees strike the dashboard
A. Fractured femur
B. Fractured humerus
C. Lacerated spleen
D. None of the above - answer>>A. Fractured femur
Reason epinephrine is added to local anesthetics - answer>>Prolongs its action
Used to treat high ICP - answer>>Control BG
,Hyperventilation (pCO2 30-35)
Elevate head of bed
Mannitol (osmotic diuretic)
Furosemide (loop diur.)
Earliest symptom of local anesthetic toxicity - answer>>Tongue and circumoral numbness
A 18-year-old male sustains a right femur fracture and a cerebral concussion in a motor vehicle accident.
His initial blood pressure is 75/50 mmHg with a pulse of 90 beats per minute. After giving him 2 liters of
Ringer lactate he stabilizes, but the blood pressure falls when he is seen in the ER. Which of the
following would be the cause of suspected hypotension in this patient?
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Undiagnosed facial fracture
C. Ruptured spleen
D. 10% pneumothorax - answer>>C. Ruptured spleen
An unrestrained driver involved in a high speed MVA is transported by paramedics with c-spine
precautions. GCS score is 7, but there is no obvious trauma. Respirations are shallow, and BVM is not
providing adequate ventilation. Extremities are cool, and the pulses are thready. Prior to rapid sequence
intubation, what should be done?
A. Brief neurologic examination
B. Immediate chin lift and jaw thrust maneuver
C. Assess all vital signs
D. Administer 4-5 quick tidal volume breaths with an FIO2 of 100% using a bag mask ventilatory device -
answer>>D. Administer 4-5 quick tidal volume breaths with an FIO2 of 100% using a bag mask
ventilatory device
Which of the following is indicative of a kidney injury?
A. Ascites
,B. Flank tenderness
C. Hematuria
D. Hematemesis - answer>>C. Hematuria
Can occur during massive blood transfusions - answer>>-Dilutional thrombocytopenia
-Hypocalcemia
-Coagulation abnormalities
NOT hypokalemia
Which of the following most likely will result in a favorable outcome in pediatric drowning?
A. Spontaneous circulation established in the ER
B. Core temperature in the ER <33ºC C. Return of spontaneous circulation at the scene of the drowning
D. Reactive pupils at the scene of the drowning - answer>>C. Return of spontaneous circulation at the
scene of the drowning
Underlying pathophysiology of a decrease in urine output - answer>>Compromised organ perfusion
Which of the following clinical signs is the most worrisome in a patient whom elevation of ICP is a
concern?
A. Tachycardia
B. Asymmetric pupils
C. Hypothermia
D. Decreased blood pressure - answer>>B. Asymmetric pupils
Battle sign - answer>>(Mastoid ecchymosis)
, Etiology: fracture of middle cranial fossa of skull
Posterior auricular = artery that causes the bruising
A patient is on mechanical ventilator and his arterial blood gas reveals a PCO2 of 38 and a pH of 7.41.
What is the appropriate next step?
A. Increase oxygen
B. Observe
C. Increase rate
D. Increase tidal volume - answer>>B. Observe
A trauma patient is receiving fluids at 150 cc/hr. He received two units of blood because his initial
hemoglobin was 7.3 g. After 4 hours, his urine output is 7 cc/hr and his central venous pressure is 3 cm
of water. What is the next step in his management?
A. Start furosemide drip
B. Start dopamine at renal dose
C. Administer 500 cc of NS bolus over 1 hour
D. Decrease the rate of fluid administration - answer>>C. Administer 500 cc of NS bolus over 1 hour
A patient is placed on a heating blanket for hypothermia. It is most important to monitor which of the
following?
A. Vital signs
B. Neurologic status
C. Sensory deficits
D. Oxygenation - answer>>A. Vital signs
