PHTLS 10TH EDITION POST TEST 2026
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION GUIDE
◉ How does the body respond to hypoperfusion? Answer:
vasoconstriction, tachycardia, tachypnea
◉ The attraction of leukocytes to the site of inflammation (like
chumming the waters for sharks) during degranulation is called
what? Answer: chemotaxis
◉ The cardinal sign of overhydration is? Answer: edema
◉ The prime determinants of cellular perfusion are? Answer: the
heart, the fluid volume, the blood vessels, and the cells of the body
◉ What are colloids? Answer: fluid solution that contains molecules
(usually proteins) that are too large to pass out of the capillary
membrane, thus remain in the vascular compartment. Large protein
give it a very high osmolarity.
◉ What are the classic S/S of anaphylactic shock? Answer: hives,
itching, respiratory distress, airway obstruction, vasodilation
erythema (redness / flushing)
,◉ What are the classic signs of the inflammatory response? Answer:
Rubor, Tumor, Dolor, Calor, Function loss
◉ What are the three primary PHTLS categories of shock? Answer:
cardiogenic, distributive, hypovolemic
◉ What is an IO? Answer: the technique of administering fluids,
blood and blood products, and medications into the intraosseous
space of a long bone
◉ What is apoptosis? Answer: normal, genetically programed cell
death
◉ What is blood tubing? Answer: macrodrip administration set with
duel piercing spikes
◉ What is left ventricular hypertrophy? Answer: increase in the size
of the cells increasing the size of the left ventricle
◉ What is normal saline? Answer: isotonic, 0.9% sodium chloride
◉ What is the most common cause of shock in the trauma patient?
Answer: blood loss/ hypovolemia
,◉ What is used prehospital isotonic, hypertonic or hypotonic?
Answer: isotonic
◉ When oxygen does not reach the cell, what happens to the cell?
Answer: hypoxia
◉ Internal Blood Loss: rib, radius or ulna, humerus, tibia or fubula,
femur, pelvis Answer: rib: 125, radius or ulna: 250-500, humerus:
500-750, tibia or fubula: 500-1000, femur: 1000-2000, pelvis: 1000-
massive
◉ osteomyelitis Answer: In an open fracture, a bone punctures the
skin and the end can be contaminated with bacteria from the skin or
environment.
◉ Contraindications to use of traction splint Answer: -suspected
pelvic fracture
-suspected femoral neck (hip) fracture
-avulsion or amputation of the ankle and foot
-suspected fractures adjacent to the knee
◉ Rami fracture Answer: Isolated fracture of the inferior or superior
rami which are generally minor and do not require surgical
stabilization.
, ◉ Acetabular fracture Answer: These fractures occur when the head
of the femur is driven into the acetabulum of the pelvis.
◉ Pelvic ring fractures Answer: Fractures of the pelvic ring are
typically classified into three categories. Life-threatening
hemorrhage is probably most common with vertical shear fractures,
but it may be associated with each type of pelvic ring fracture.
◉ 3 categories of pelvic ring fractures:
1. Lateral compression fractures
2. anterior-posterior compression fractures
3. vertical shear fractures Answer: 1. Lateral compression fractures-
occur when forces are applied to the lateral aspects.
2. anterior-posterior compression fractures- occur when forces are
applied in an anterior or posterior direction.
3. vertical shear fractures- (worst of all) occur when a vertical force
is applied to the hemi-pelvis. Blood vessels are often torn resulting
in severe hemorrhage.
◉ How do you splint dislocations? Answer: Splint dislocations in
"position found." However, when pulse is absent or weak, gentle
manipulation of the joint can be done to try to return blood flow.
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION GUIDE
◉ How does the body respond to hypoperfusion? Answer:
vasoconstriction, tachycardia, tachypnea
◉ The attraction of leukocytes to the site of inflammation (like
chumming the waters for sharks) during degranulation is called
what? Answer: chemotaxis
◉ The cardinal sign of overhydration is? Answer: edema
◉ The prime determinants of cellular perfusion are? Answer: the
heart, the fluid volume, the blood vessels, and the cells of the body
◉ What are colloids? Answer: fluid solution that contains molecules
(usually proteins) that are too large to pass out of the capillary
membrane, thus remain in the vascular compartment. Large protein
give it a very high osmolarity.
◉ What are the classic S/S of anaphylactic shock? Answer: hives,
itching, respiratory distress, airway obstruction, vasodilation
erythema (redness / flushing)
,◉ What are the classic signs of the inflammatory response? Answer:
Rubor, Tumor, Dolor, Calor, Function loss
◉ What are the three primary PHTLS categories of shock? Answer:
cardiogenic, distributive, hypovolemic
◉ What is an IO? Answer: the technique of administering fluids,
blood and blood products, and medications into the intraosseous
space of a long bone
◉ What is apoptosis? Answer: normal, genetically programed cell
death
◉ What is blood tubing? Answer: macrodrip administration set with
duel piercing spikes
◉ What is left ventricular hypertrophy? Answer: increase in the size
of the cells increasing the size of the left ventricle
◉ What is normal saline? Answer: isotonic, 0.9% sodium chloride
◉ What is the most common cause of shock in the trauma patient?
Answer: blood loss/ hypovolemia
,◉ What is used prehospital isotonic, hypertonic or hypotonic?
Answer: isotonic
◉ When oxygen does not reach the cell, what happens to the cell?
Answer: hypoxia
◉ Internal Blood Loss: rib, radius or ulna, humerus, tibia or fubula,
femur, pelvis Answer: rib: 125, radius or ulna: 250-500, humerus:
500-750, tibia or fubula: 500-1000, femur: 1000-2000, pelvis: 1000-
massive
◉ osteomyelitis Answer: In an open fracture, a bone punctures the
skin and the end can be contaminated with bacteria from the skin or
environment.
◉ Contraindications to use of traction splint Answer: -suspected
pelvic fracture
-suspected femoral neck (hip) fracture
-avulsion or amputation of the ankle and foot
-suspected fractures adjacent to the knee
◉ Rami fracture Answer: Isolated fracture of the inferior or superior
rami which are generally minor and do not require surgical
stabilization.
, ◉ Acetabular fracture Answer: These fractures occur when the head
of the femur is driven into the acetabulum of the pelvis.
◉ Pelvic ring fractures Answer: Fractures of the pelvic ring are
typically classified into three categories. Life-threatening
hemorrhage is probably most common with vertical shear fractures,
but it may be associated with each type of pelvic ring fracture.
◉ 3 categories of pelvic ring fractures:
1. Lateral compression fractures
2. anterior-posterior compression fractures
3. vertical shear fractures Answer: 1. Lateral compression fractures-
occur when forces are applied to the lateral aspects.
2. anterior-posterior compression fractures- occur when forces are
applied in an anterior or posterior direction.
3. vertical shear fractures- (worst of all) occur when a vertical force
is applied to the hemi-pelvis. Blood vessels are often torn resulting
in severe hemorrhage.
◉ How do you splint dislocations? Answer: Splint dislocations in
"position found." However, when pulse is absent or weak, gentle
manipulation of the joint can be done to try to return blood flow.
