ATLS MCQ TEST 1 L EXAM PREP 2026
PRACTICE SOLUTION STUDY GUIDE
◉ The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical
significance in the management of the severely injured, gravid
woman by: Answer: increasing the volume of blood loss to produce
maternal hypotension
◉ The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn
patient is: Answer: urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
◉ The diagnosis of shock must include: 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: Answer:
direct pressure on the wound
◉ For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound
hypocarbia should be avoided to prevent: Answer: cerebral
vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
,◉ After being involved in a motor vehicle crash, a 25-year-old man is
brought to a hospital that has surgery capabilities available..
Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen shows an aortic
injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid. His blood
pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step is: Answer:
perform an exploratory laparotomy
◉ Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal
trauma in the pregnant patient is TRUE? Answer: Leakage of
amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital admission.
◉ The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is:
Answer: administer supplemental oxygen
◉ A 25-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted
to the emergency department. His pupils react sluggishly and his
eyes open to pressure. He does not follow commands, but he does
moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and does not respond
to pressure; however, his left hand reaches purposefully toward the
stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS score is: Answer: 9
◉ A 20-year-old woman who is at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in
the upper right chest. In the emergency department, her blood
pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is gasping for breath, extremely
anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are diminished in the
right chest. The most appropriate first step is to: Answer: perform
needle or finger decompression of the right chest
,◉ Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to
require immediate management during the primary survey?
Answer: respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
◉ The most important, immediate step in the management of an
open pneumothorax is: Answer: placement of an occlusive dressing
over the wound
◉ The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid
administration: Answer: history of neurological reaction or severe
hypersensitivity to the product
◉ A 56-year-old man is thrown violently against the steering wheel
of his truck during a motor vehicle crash. On arrival in the
emergency department he is diaphoretic and complaining of chest
pain. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his respiratory rate is
40 breaths per minute. Which of the following best differentiates
cardiac tamponade from tension pneumothorax as the cause of his
hypotension? Answer: breath sounds
◉ Bronchial intubation of the right or left mainstem bronchus can
easily occur during infant endotracheal intubation because: Answer:
The trachea is relatively short.
, ◉ A 23-year-old man sustains 4 stab wounds to the upper right
chest during an altercation and is brought by ambulance to a
hospital that has full surgical capabilities. His wounds are all above
the nipple. He is endotracheally intubated, closed tube thoracostomy
is performed, fluid resuscitation is initiated through 2 large-caliber
IVs. FAST exam does not reveal intraabdominal injuries. His blood
pressure now is 60/0 mm Hg, heart rate is 160 beats per minute,
and respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute (ventilated with 100%
O2). 1500 mL of blood has drained from the right chest. The most
appropriate next step in managing this patient is to: Answer:
urgently transfer the patient to the operating room
◉ A 39-year-old man is admitted to the emergency department after
an automobile collision. He is cyanotic, has insufficient respiratory
effort, and has a GCS score of 6. His full beard makes it difficult to fit
the oxygen facemask to his face. The most appropriate next step is
to: Answer: restrict cervical motion and attempt orotracheal
intubation using 2 people
◉ A patient is brought to the emergency department after a motor
vehicle crash. He is conscious and there is no obvious external
trauma. He arrives at the hospital completely immobilized on a long
spine board. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his heart rate
is 70 beats per minute. His skin is warm. Which one of the following
statements is TRUE? Answer: Flaccidity of the lower extremities and
loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
PRACTICE SOLUTION STUDY GUIDE
◉ The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical
significance in the management of the severely injured, gravid
woman by: Answer: increasing the volume of blood loss to produce
maternal hypotension
◉ The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the adult burn
patient is: Answer: urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
◉ The diagnosis of shock must include: 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: Answer:
direct pressure on the wound
◉ For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound
hypocarbia should be avoided to prevent: Answer: cerebral
vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
,◉ After being involved in a motor vehicle crash, a 25-year-old man is
brought to a hospital that has surgery capabilities available..
Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen shows an aortic
injury and splenic laceration with free abdominal fluid. His blood
pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step is: Answer:
perform an exploratory laparotomy
◉ Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal
trauma in the pregnant patient is TRUE? Answer: Leakage of
amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital admission.
◉ The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is:
Answer: administer supplemental oxygen
◉ A 25-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted
to the emergency department. His pupils react sluggishly and his
eyes open to pressure. He does not follow commands, but he does
moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and does not respond
to pressure; however, his left hand reaches purposefully toward the
stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS score is: Answer: 9
◉ A 20-year-old woman who is at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in
the upper right chest. In the emergency department, her blood
pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is gasping for breath, extremely
anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are diminished in the
right chest. The most appropriate first step is to: Answer: perform
needle or finger decompression of the right chest
,◉ Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to
require immediate management during the primary survey?
Answer: respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
◉ The most important, immediate step in the management of an
open pneumothorax is: Answer: placement of an occlusive dressing
over the wound
◉ The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid
administration: Answer: history of neurological reaction or severe
hypersensitivity to the product
◉ A 56-year-old man is thrown violently against the steering wheel
of his truck during a motor vehicle crash. On arrival in the
emergency department he is diaphoretic and complaining of chest
pain. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his respiratory rate is
40 breaths per minute. Which of the following best differentiates
cardiac tamponade from tension pneumothorax as the cause of his
hypotension? Answer: breath sounds
◉ Bronchial intubation of the right or left mainstem bronchus can
easily occur during infant endotracheal intubation because: Answer:
The trachea is relatively short.
, ◉ A 23-year-old man sustains 4 stab wounds to the upper right
chest during an altercation and is brought by ambulance to a
hospital that has full surgical capabilities. His wounds are all above
the nipple. He is endotracheally intubated, closed tube thoracostomy
is performed, fluid resuscitation is initiated through 2 large-caliber
IVs. FAST exam does not reveal intraabdominal injuries. His blood
pressure now is 60/0 mm Hg, heart rate is 160 beats per minute,
and respiratory rate is 14 breaths per minute (ventilated with 100%
O2). 1500 mL of blood has drained from the right chest. The most
appropriate next step in managing this patient is to: Answer:
urgently transfer the patient to the operating room
◉ A 39-year-old man is admitted to the emergency department after
an automobile collision. He is cyanotic, has insufficient respiratory
effort, and has a GCS score of 6. His full beard makes it difficult to fit
the oxygen facemask to his face. The most appropriate next step is
to: Answer: restrict cervical motion and attempt orotracheal
intubation using 2 people
◉ A patient is brought to the emergency department after a motor
vehicle crash. He is conscious and there is no obvious external
trauma. He arrives at the hospital completely immobilized on a long
spine board. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his heart rate
is 70 beats per minute. His skin is warm. Which one of the following
statements is TRUE? Answer: Flaccidity of the lower extremities and
loss of deep tendon reflexes are expected.
