ATLS EXAM 2025/2026 WITH 100% ACCURATE
ANSWERS
1. For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia
should be avoided to prevent:
neurogenic pulmonary edema
metabolic acidosis
respiratory acidosis
cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
2. Why is bag and mask ventilation considered inappropriate for patients with
a diaphragmatic hernia?
Bag and mask ventilation is only used in pediatric patients.
Bag and mask ventilation can increase intrathoracic pressure,
worsening respiratory distress.
Bag and mask ventilation does not provide adequate oxygenation.
Bag and mask ventilation is less effective than intubation in all cases.
3. What condition is indicated by a widened mediastinum in an adult?
Cardiac tamponade
Aortic dissection
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary embolism
,4. A healthy 24-year-old is involved in a motor vehicle accident. He loses
consciousness but regains it within a few hours and appears normal to
friends. He later presents to the emergency room very lethargic, weak, and
with a dilated pupil on the left side. The patient most likely has which of the
following conditions?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Acute epidural hematoma
Acute subdural hematoma
Intra-cerebral hemorrhage
5. A patient involved in an MVA is brought to the trauma center unconscious.
Her vitals are Temp 35.7; HR 140; RR 24; BP 80/40 mmHg. She is cold,
shivering, and perspiring profusely. She has bilateral reactive pupils but she
does not respond to pain. On physical examination she has no obvious sign
of external bleeding. Which of the following CANNOT be the cause of
hypotension in this patient?
Pelvic fracture
Fracture of the femur
C6 spinal cord injury
Hemothorax
6. What treatment is indicated for a small, unilateral pneumothorax in a patient
with stable vitals?
Tube thoracostomy
Observation
Give them a tension pneumothorax in the other lung to balance out
,7. In a scenario where a patient presents with cardiac tamponade, which
imaging technique would be most beneficial for guiding
pericardiocentesis?
Chest X-ray
Angiography
MRI
Echocardiogram
8. What is the highest degree of burn that involves bone damage?
First
Fourth
Second
Third
9. Describe the typical management approach for patients with post-traumatic
CSF otorrhea following head trauma.
Antibiotics are necessary for all cases to prevent infection.
Surgery is the only option for recovery.
All patients require immediate surgical intervention.
Most patients heal spontaneously without the need for surgery or
antibiotics.
10. What is the procedure of choice for emergent pericardiocentesis?
X-ray
Echocardiogram
, CT scan
Ultrasound
11. In a scenario where a trauma patient requires immediate intervention but
has a high risk of complications, how should the principle of
nonmaleficence influence the decision-making process?
The principle of nonmaleficence allows for any necessary
intervention regardless of potential harm.
The principle of nonmaleficence suggests that any intervention
should be avoided if there is any risk of harm.
The principle of nonmaleficence should lead the medical team to
carefully weigh the risks and benefits of the intervention, opting
for the least harmful approach that still addresses the patient's
critical needs.
The principle of nonmaleficence indicates that the patient's wishes
should be disregarded in emergencies.
12. What blood group is known as the universal donor in transfusion medicine?
B
O
A
AB
13. What is the most common cause of fat embolism?
Liver disease
Cardiac arrest
Bone fracture
ANSWERS
1. For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound hypocarbia
should be avoided to prevent:
neurogenic pulmonary edema
metabolic acidosis
respiratory acidosis
cerebral vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion
shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
2. Why is bag and mask ventilation considered inappropriate for patients with
a diaphragmatic hernia?
Bag and mask ventilation is only used in pediatric patients.
Bag and mask ventilation can increase intrathoracic pressure,
worsening respiratory distress.
Bag and mask ventilation does not provide adequate oxygenation.
Bag and mask ventilation is less effective than intubation in all cases.
3. What condition is indicated by a widened mediastinum in an adult?
Cardiac tamponade
Aortic dissection
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary embolism
,4. A healthy 24-year-old is involved in a motor vehicle accident. He loses
consciousness but regains it within a few hours and appears normal to
friends. He later presents to the emergency room very lethargic, weak, and
with a dilated pupil on the left side. The patient most likely has which of the
following conditions?
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Acute epidural hematoma
Acute subdural hematoma
Intra-cerebral hemorrhage
5. A patient involved in an MVA is brought to the trauma center unconscious.
Her vitals are Temp 35.7; HR 140; RR 24; BP 80/40 mmHg. She is cold,
shivering, and perspiring profusely. She has bilateral reactive pupils but she
does not respond to pain. On physical examination she has no obvious sign
of external bleeding. Which of the following CANNOT be the cause of
hypotension in this patient?
Pelvic fracture
Fracture of the femur
C6 spinal cord injury
Hemothorax
6. What treatment is indicated for a small, unilateral pneumothorax in a patient
with stable vitals?
Tube thoracostomy
Observation
Give them a tension pneumothorax in the other lung to balance out
,7. In a scenario where a patient presents with cardiac tamponade, which
imaging technique would be most beneficial for guiding
pericardiocentesis?
Chest X-ray
Angiography
MRI
Echocardiogram
8. What is the highest degree of burn that involves bone damage?
First
Fourth
Second
Third
9. Describe the typical management approach for patients with post-traumatic
CSF otorrhea following head trauma.
Antibiotics are necessary for all cases to prevent infection.
Surgery is the only option for recovery.
All patients require immediate surgical intervention.
Most patients heal spontaneously without the need for surgery or
antibiotics.
10. What is the procedure of choice for emergent pericardiocentesis?
X-ray
Echocardiogram
, CT scan
Ultrasound
11. In a scenario where a trauma patient requires immediate intervention but
has a high risk of complications, how should the principle of
nonmaleficence influence the decision-making process?
The principle of nonmaleficence allows for any necessary
intervention regardless of potential harm.
The principle of nonmaleficence suggests that any intervention
should be avoided if there is any risk of harm.
The principle of nonmaleficence should lead the medical team to
carefully weigh the risks and benefits of the intervention, opting
for the least harmful approach that still addresses the patient's
critical needs.
The principle of nonmaleficence indicates that the patient's wishes
should be disregarded in emergencies.
12. What blood group is known as the universal donor in transfusion medicine?
B
O
A
AB
13. What is the most common cause of fat embolism?
Liver disease
Cardiac arrest
Bone fracture
