PHTLS PRE AND POST TEST 4
COMPREHENSIVE TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH FULL SOLUTION VERIFIED
◉ The single most important factor in determining the potential for
injury due to energy exchange is: Answer: Velocity of the bodies
involved
◉ In the management of shock, isotonic crystalloid solutions, such
as Ringer's, are preferred because: Answer: These solutions will stay
in the vascular space longer than water solutions, such as D5W
◉ With respect to the distance of a fall, which of the following is a
guideline for determining a critical fall? Answer: 3 times the height
of the patient
◉ The phase of an explosion, or blast, in which hollow organs are
squeezed and may rupture is called the __________ phase. Answer:
Primary phase
◉ During the primary survey and management of a trauma patient,
the E in ABCDE stands for _________? Answer: Expose/Environment
,◉ The time in which surgical intervention can make a difference in
patient outcome is the __________? Answer: Golden period (hour)
◉ In the absence of extenuating circumstances, the maximum
amount of time it should take to identify and manage immediate
threats to life, prepare the patient for transport and begin transport
is _________? Answer: 10 minutes
◉ In which of the following situations is the use of a short spinal
immobilization device indicated? Answer: None of the above
◉ Your patient is a 32 year old man, restrained driver of a vehicle
that has been involved in a frontal impact with a concrete bridge
abutment. The patient is awake, but has difficulty answering
questions due to shortness of breath. His ventilatory rate is 30 per
minute. Of the following choices, when is the first time the patient's
breath sounds should be checked? Answer: Prior to being removed
from the vehicle
◉ Which of the following represents adequate spontaneous
ventilation in an adult? Answer: Tidal volume 600 mL, ventilatory
rate 12/minute
◉ Which of the following is 100% accurate in verifying endotracheal
tube placement? Answer: None of the above
,◉ When utilizing percutaneous transtracheal ventilation, the correct
ration of lung inflation to lung inflation time, in seconds, is: Answer:
1:4
◉ Which of the following is a possible complication of using a
manually triggered oxygen powered device for ventilation? Answer:
All of the above
◉ Which of the following procedures is considered an essential
airway Answer: Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
◉ Pericardial tamponade is most likely to occur in which of the
following situations? Answer: Stab wound to the chest
◉ Which of the following is the preferred site for needle
decompression of a tension pneumothorax? Answer: 2nd intercostal
space, midclavicular line, just over top of the 3rd rib
◉ Which of the following is the mechanism by which pulmonary
contusion interferes with oxygenation? Answer: Blood and fluid in
the alveoli and interstitial spaces of the lung
◉ Your patient is a 55 year old male who was struck in the right side
of the chest with a piece of steel pipe. He presents with
, uncooperative behavior, his skin is pale and moist, the ventilatory
rate is 32, there is a weak radial pulse of 112, and breath sounds are
decreased on the right side. The trachea is midline and jugular veins
are flat while the patient is supine. There is isolated crepitus over
the 4th and 5th ribs in the midaxillary line on the patient's right
side. Based on the mechanism of injury and the assessment findings,
which of the following is the most likely cause of the patient's signs
and symptoms? Answer: Hemothorax
◉ Deterioration of ventilation and oxygenation after inflation of a
PASG in a patient who has sustained a high-pressure compression
injury of the abdomen, such as a sudden deceleration with the lap
belt placed across the abdomen, most likely represents which of the
following Answer: Ruptured diaphragm
◉ Which of the following is NOT a component of the Fick principle?
Answer: Adequate number of platelets in the blood
◉ One of the earliest signs of hypovolemic shock Answer: Anxiety
◉ Which of the following characterizes the washout phase of shock?
Answer: Systemic acidosis
◉ A trauma patient who has fallen 20 feet from an apartment
balcony is alert with warm, dry, pink skin, with normal capillary
refilling time to the lower extremities, and is hypotensive. The upper
COMPREHENSIVE TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH FULL SOLUTION VERIFIED
◉ The single most important factor in determining the potential for
injury due to energy exchange is: Answer: Velocity of the bodies
involved
◉ In the management of shock, isotonic crystalloid solutions, such
as Ringer's, are preferred because: Answer: These solutions will stay
in the vascular space longer than water solutions, such as D5W
◉ With respect to the distance of a fall, which of the following is a
guideline for determining a critical fall? Answer: 3 times the height
of the patient
◉ The phase of an explosion, or blast, in which hollow organs are
squeezed and may rupture is called the __________ phase. Answer:
Primary phase
◉ During the primary survey and management of a trauma patient,
the E in ABCDE stands for _________? Answer: Expose/Environment
,◉ The time in which surgical intervention can make a difference in
patient outcome is the __________? Answer: Golden period (hour)
◉ In the absence of extenuating circumstances, the maximum
amount of time it should take to identify and manage immediate
threats to life, prepare the patient for transport and begin transport
is _________? Answer: 10 minutes
◉ In which of the following situations is the use of a short spinal
immobilization device indicated? Answer: None of the above
◉ Your patient is a 32 year old man, restrained driver of a vehicle
that has been involved in a frontal impact with a concrete bridge
abutment. The patient is awake, but has difficulty answering
questions due to shortness of breath. His ventilatory rate is 30 per
minute. Of the following choices, when is the first time the patient's
breath sounds should be checked? Answer: Prior to being removed
from the vehicle
◉ Which of the following represents adequate spontaneous
ventilation in an adult? Answer: Tidal volume 600 mL, ventilatory
rate 12/minute
◉ Which of the following is 100% accurate in verifying endotracheal
tube placement? Answer: None of the above
,◉ When utilizing percutaneous transtracheal ventilation, the correct
ration of lung inflation to lung inflation time, in seconds, is: Answer:
1:4
◉ Which of the following is a possible complication of using a
manually triggered oxygen powered device for ventilation? Answer:
All of the above
◉ Which of the following procedures is considered an essential
airway Answer: Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
◉ Pericardial tamponade is most likely to occur in which of the
following situations? Answer: Stab wound to the chest
◉ Which of the following is the preferred site for needle
decompression of a tension pneumothorax? Answer: 2nd intercostal
space, midclavicular line, just over top of the 3rd rib
◉ Which of the following is the mechanism by which pulmonary
contusion interferes with oxygenation? Answer: Blood and fluid in
the alveoli and interstitial spaces of the lung
◉ Your patient is a 55 year old male who was struck in the right side
of the chest with a piece of steel pipe. He presents with
, uncooperative behavior, his skin is pale and moist, the ventilatory
rate is 32, there is a weak radial pulse of 112, and breath sounds are
decreased on the right side. The trachea is midline and jugular veins
are flat while the patient is supine. There is isolated crepitus over
the 4th and 5th ribs in the midaxillary line on the patient's right
side. Based on the mechanism of injury and the assessment findings,
which of the following is the most likely cause of the patient's signs
and symptoms? Answer: Hemothorax
◉ Deterioration of ventilation and oxygenation after inflation of a
PASG in a patient who has sustained a high-pressure compression
injury of the abdomen, such as a sudden deceleration with the lap
belt placed across the abdomen, most likely represents which of the
following Answer: Ruptured diaphragm
◉ Which of the following is NOT a component of the Fick principle?
Answer: Adequate number of platelets in the blood
◉ One of the earliest signs of hypovolemic shock Answer: Anxiety
◉ Which of the following characterizes the washout phase of shock?
Answer: Systemic acidosis
◉ A trauma patient who has fallen 20 feet from an apartment
balcony is alert with warm, dry, pink skin, with normal capillary
refilling time to the lower extremities, and is hypotensive. The upper
