Atls Post Exam 2025-2026 With Ques ons And Answers
Which of the following is the recommended Method for treatment frostbite?
A. Vasodilators
B. An cigulants
C. Warm (40 degrees) water
D. Padding and eleva on
E. Applica on of heat from a hairdryer - correct answers C. Warm (40 degrees)
water
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other
than spinal cord injury?
A. Priapism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragma c breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them - correct answers D. Presence of
deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of muscle toe (flaccidty) and loss
of reflexes.
The primary indica on for transferring A pa ent to a higher level trauma center
is:
A. Unavailibility of surgeon or opera ng staff
B. Mul ple system injuries, including severe head injury
C. Resource limita ons as determined by the transferring doctor
D. Resource limita ons as determined by the hospital administra on
E. Widened medias num on chest x-ray following blunt trauma - correct answers
C. Resource limita ons as determined by the transferring doctor
A young man sustains a rifle wound to the mid-abdomen. He is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphore c, and his
systolic blood pressure is 58mmHg. Warmed crystalloid fluids are ini ated
,without improvement in his vital signs. The next, most appropriate, step is to
perform:
A. a laparotomy
B. An abdominal CT-scan
C. Diagnos c laparoscopy
D. Abdominal ultrasonography
E. A diagnos c peritoneal lavage - correct answers A. Laparotomy because of
hemodynamic abnormality
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his overturned
tractor for several hours before medical assistance arrives. He is awake and alert
un l just before arriving in the ED. He is now unconscious and responds only to
painful s muli by moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically
reac ve to light. Prehospital personnel indicate that they have not seen the
pa ent move either of his lower extremi es. On examina on in the ED, no
movement of his lower extremi es are detected, even in response to painful
s muli. The most likely cause for this finding is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome - correct answers E. Bilateral compartment
syndrome
A 6-year-o boy is struck by an automobile and brought to the ED. He is lethargic,
but withdraws purposefully from painful s muli. His blood pressure is 90mmHg
systolic, heart rate 140 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 36 breaths per
minute. The preferred route of venous access in this pa ent is:
A. Percutaneous femoral vein cannula on
B. Cutdown on the saphenous vein at the ankle
C. Intraosseous catheter placement in the proximal bia
D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremi es
E. Central venous access via the subclavian or internal jugular vein - correct
answers D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremi es
A young man sustains a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphore c, and he is
,confused. His pulse is thready and his femoral pulse is only weakly palpable. The
defini ve treatment in managing this pa ent is to:
A. Administer O-nega ve blood
B. Apply external warming devices
C. Control internal hemorrhage opera vely
D. Apply a pneuma c an shock garment (PASG)
E. Infuse large volumes of intravenous crystalloid solu ons. - correct answers C.
Control internal hemorrhage opera vely
Regarding shock in the child, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Vital signs are age-related
B. Children have greater physiologic reserves than do adults
C. Tachycardia is the primary physiologic response to hypovolemia
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in
adults
E. An ini al fluid bolus for resuscita on should approximate 20ml/kg Ringers
Lactate - correct answers D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to
produce shock is the same as in adults
A 33-year-old man is struck by a car travelling at 56km/h (35mph). He has
obvious fractures of the le bia near the knee, pain in the pelvic area, and
severe dyspnea. His heart rate is 182 beats per minute, and his respiratory rate is
48 breaths per minute with no breath sounds heard in the le chest. A tension
pneumothorax is relieved by immediate needle decompression and tube
thoracostomy. Subsequently, his heart rate decreases to 144 beats per minute,
his respirartory rate decreases to 36 breaths per minute and his blood pressure is
81/53 mmHg. Warmed Ringers lactate is adminstered intravenously. The next
priority should be to:
A. Perform external fixa on of the pelvis
B. Obtain abdominal and pelvic CT-scans
C. Perform arterial emboliza on of the pelvic vessel
D. Perform diagnos c peritoneal lavage or FAST
E. Perform a urethrogram and cystogram - correct answers D. Perform diagnos c
peritoneal lavage or FAST
A 42-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicle crash, suffers a closed head injury,
mul ple palpable le rib fractures, and bilateral femur fractures. He is intubated
orotracheally without difficulty. Ini ally, his ven la ons are easily assisted with a
, bag-mask device. It becomes more difficult to ven late the pa ent over the next
5 minutes, and his hemoglobin oxygen satura on level decreases from 98% to
89%. The most appropriate next step is to:
A. Obtain a chest x-ray
B. Decrease the dal volume
C. Decrease PEEP
D. Increase the rate of assisted ven la ons
E. Perform needle decompression of the le chest. - correct answers A. Obtain a
chest x-ray
A 30-year-old man sustains a severely comminuted, open, distal right femur
fracture in a motorcycle crash. The wound is ac vely bleeding. Normal sensa on
is present over the lateral aspect of the foot but decreased over the medial foot
and great toe. Normal mo on of the foot is observed. Dorsalis pedis and
posterior bial pulses are easily palpable on the le , but heard only by Doppler
on the right. Immediate efforts to improve circula on to the injured extremity
should involve:
A. Immediate angiography
B. Tamponade of the wound with a pressure dressing
C. Wound explora on and removal of bony fragments
D. Realignment of the fracture segments with a trac on splint
E. Fasciotomy of all four compartments in the lower extremity - correct answers
B. Tamponade of the wound with a pressure dressing
An 18-yeard-old, unhelmeted motorcyclist is brought by ambulance to the ED
following a crash. He had decreased level of consciousness at the scene, but then
was alert and conversa onal during transporta on. Now his GCS is only 11.
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Cerebral perfusion is intact
B. Intravascular volume status is normal
C. The pa ent is in a pos ctal state
D. Intra-abdominal visceral injury is unlikely
E. The pa ent probably has an acute epidural hematoma - correct answers E.
The pa ent probably has an acute epidural hematoma
A previously healthy, 70kg (175 pound) man suffers an es mated acute blood
loss of two liters. Which one of the following statements apply to this pa ent?
A. His pulse pressure will be widened
Which of the following is the recommended Method for treatment frostbite?
A. Vasodilators
B. An cigulants
C. Warm (40 degrees) water
D. Padding and eleva on
E. Applica on of heat from a hairdryer - correct answers C. Warm (40 degrees)
water
Which of the following physical findings suggest a cause of hypotension other
than spinal cord injury?
A. Priapism
B. Bradycardia
C. Diaphragma c breathing
D. Presence of deep tendon reflexes
E. Ability to flex forearms but not extend them - correct answers D. Presence of
deep tendon reflexes. Spinal shock refers to loss of muscle toe (flaccidty) and loss
of reflexes.
The primary indica on for transferring A pa ent to a higher level trauma center
is:
A. Unavailibility of surgeon or opera ng staff
B. Mul ple system injuries, including severe head injury
C. Resource limita ons as determined by the transferring doctor
D. Resource limita ons as determined by the hospital administra on
E. Widened medias num on chest x-ray following blunt trauma - correct answers
C. Resource limita ons as determined by the transferring doctor
A young man sustains a rifle wound to the mid-abdomen. He is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphore c, and his
systolic blood pressure is 58mmHg. Warmed crystalloid fluids are ini ated
,without improvement in his vital signs. The next, most appropriate, step is to
perform:
A. a laparotomy
B. An abdominal CT-scan
C. Diagnos c laparoscopy
D. Abdominal ultrasonography
E. A diagnos c peritoneal lavage - correct answers A. Laparotomy because of
hemodynamic abnormality
A 42-year-old man is trapped from the waist down beneath his overturned
tractor for several hours before medical assistance arrives. He is awake and alert
un l just before arriving in the ED. He is now unconscious and responds only to
painful s muli by moaning. His pupils are 3mm in diameter and symmetrically
reac ve to light. Prehospital personnel indicate that they have not seen the
pa ent move either of his lower extremi es. On examina on in the ED, no
movement of his lower extremi es are detected, even in response to painful
s muli. The most likely cause for this finding is:
A. An epidural hematoma
B. A pelvic fracture
C. Central cord syndrome
D. Intracerebral hemorrhage
E. Bilateral compartment syndrome - correct answers E. Bilateral compartment
syndrome
A 6-year-o boy is struck by an automobile and brought to the ED. He is lethargic,
but withdraws purposefully from painful s muli. His blood pressure is 90mmHg
systolic, heart rate 140 beats per minute and his respiratory rate is 36 breaths per
minute. The preferred route of venous access in this pa ent is:
A. Percutaneous femoral vein cannula on
B. Cutdown on the saphenous vein at the ankle
C. Intraosseous catheter placement in the proximal bia
D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremi es
E. Central venous access via the subclavian or internal jugular vein - correct
answers D. Percutaneous peripheral veins in the upper extremi es
A young man sustains a gunshot wound to the abdomen and is brought promptly
to the ED by prehospital personnel. His skin is cool and diaphore c, and he is
,confused. His pulse is thready and his femoral pulse is only weakly palpable. The
defini ve treatment in managing this pa ent is to:
A. Administer O-nega ve blood
B. Apply external warming devices
C. Control internal hemorrhage opera vely
D. Apply a pneuma c an shock garment (PASG)
E. Infuse large volumes of intravenous crystalloid solu ons. - correct answers C.
Control internal hemorrhage opera vely
Regarding shock in the child, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Vital signs are age-related
B. Children have greater physiologic reserves than do adults
C. Tachycardia is the primary physiologic response to hypovolemia
D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to produce shock is the same as in
adults
E. An ini al fluid bolus for resuscita on should approximate 20ml/kg Ringers
Lactate - correct answers D. The absolute volume of blood loss required to
produce shock is the same as in adults
A 33-year-old man is struck by a car travelling at 56km/h (35mph). He has
obvious fractures of the le bia near the knee, pain in the pelvic area, and
severe dyspnea. His heart rate is 182 beats per minute, and his respiratory rate is
48 breaths per minute with no breath sounds heard in the le chest. A tension
pneumothorax is relieved by immediate needle decompression and tube
thoracostomy. Subsequently, his heart rate decreases to 144 beats per minute,
his respirartory rate decreases to 36 breaths per minute and his blood pressure is
81/53 mmHg. Warmed Ringers lactate is adminstered intravenously. The next
priority should be to:
A. Perform external fixa on of the pelvis
B. Obtain abdominal and pelvic CT-scans
C. Perform arterial emboliza on of the pelvic vessel
D. Perform diagnos c peritoneal lavage or FAST
E. Perform a urethrogram and cystogram - correct answers D. Perform diagnos c
peritoneal lavage or FAST
A 42-year-old man, injured in a motor vehicle crash, suffers a closed head injury,
mul ple palpable le rib fractures, and bilateral femur fractures. He is intubated
orotracheally without difficulty. Ini ally, his ven la ons are easily assisted with a
, bag-mask device. It becomes more difficult to ven late the pa ent over the next
5 minutes, and his hemoglobin oxygen satura on level decreases from 98% to
89%. The most appropriate next step is to:
A. Obtain a chest x-ray
B. Decrease the dal volume
C. Decrease PEEP
D. Increase the rate of assisted ven la ons
E. Perform needle decompression of the le chest. - correct answers A. Obtain a
chest x-ray
A 30-year-old man sustains a severely comminuted, open, distal right femur
fracture in a motorcycle crash. The wound is ac vely bleeding. Normal sensa on
is present over the lateral aspect of the foot but decreased over the medial foot
and great toe. Normal mo on of the foot is observed. Dorsalis pedis and
posterior bial pulses are easily palpable on the le , but heard only by Doppler
on the right. Immediate efforts to improve circula on to the injured extremity
should involve:
A. Immediate angiography
B. Tamponade of the wound with a pressure dressing
C. Wound explora on and removal of bony fragments
D. Realignment of the fracture segments with a trac on splint
E. Fasciotomy of all four compartments in the lower extremity - correct answers
B. Tamponade of the wound with a pressure dressing
An 18-yeard-old, unhelmeted motorcyclist is brought by ambulance to the ED
following a crash. He had decreased level of consciousness at the scene, but then
was alert and conversa onal during transporta on. Now his GCS is only 11.
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Cerebral perfusion is intact
B. Intravascular volume status is normal
C. The pa ent is in a pos ctal state
D. Intra-abdominal visceral injury is unlikely
E. The pa ent probably has an acute epidural hematoma - correct answers E.
The pa ent probably has an acute epidural hematoma
A previously healthy, 70kg (175 pound) man suffers an es mated acute blood
loss of two liters. Which one of the following statements apply to this pa ent?
A. His pulse pressure will be widened
