ATLS EXAM
Study online at
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv
1. True or false? Although the mechanism of injury may be similar to
those for the younger population, data shows increased mortality
with similar severity of injury in older adults.: True
2. In the elderly population, what is decreased physiological reserve?:
aging is characterized by impaired adaptive and homeostatic mechanisms that caused an increased
susceptibility to the stress of injury. Insults tolerated by the younger population can lead to devastating
results in elderly patients.
3. Pre-existing conditions that affect morbidity and mortality include::
cirrhosis, coagulopathy, COPD, ischemic heart disease, DM
4. What is the most common mechanism of injury in the elderly?: Fall.
Nonfatal falls are common in women and fractures are common in women who fall. Falls are the
most common cause of TBI.
5. In the elderly population, what are risk factors for falls?: advanced
age, physical impairment, history of previous fall, medication use, dementia, unsteady gait, and
visual, cognitive impairment
6. Most of elderly traffic fatalities occur in the daytime and on
weekends and typically involve other vehicles. Why?: Older people drive on more
familiar roads and at lower speeds and tend to drive during the day. Older people have slower
reaction time, a larger blind spot, limited cervical mobility, decreased hearing, and cognitive
impairment.
7. True or False? Mortality associated with small to moderate
sized burns in older adults remains high: True
8. Spilled hot liquids on the leg, which in younger patients may re-
epithelialize due to an adequate number of hair follicles, will result
in a full thickness burn in older patients.: this is true
9. Airway-patients may have dentures that may loosen or obstruct the
airway. If dentures are not obstructing the airway, leave them in place
for what?: bag mask ventilation, as it improves mask fitting.
10. When preforming rapid sequence intubation, the dose of
benzos, barbitu- rates, and other sedatives should be reduced to
what percentage to minimize the risk of cardiovascular depression?:
20-40%
, ATLS EXAM
Study online at
11. Functional changes
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv in cardiac system include declining
function, decreased sensitivity to catecholamines, atherosclerosis of
coronary vessels, increased afterload, fixed heart rate (beta blockers): this
results in lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for cardiac ischemia, elevated BP at
baseline, and increased risk of dysrythmias.
, ATLS EXAM
Study online at
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv
12. Functional changes in pulmonary system include decreased
elastic recoil, reduced residual capacity, decreased gas exchange
and decreased cough re- flex: thus they are at increased risk for respiratory failure,
increased risk for pneumonia, and poor tolerance to rib fractures
13. Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal
mass, decreased GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH and
aldosterone: resulting in drug dosing for renal insuflciency, decreased ability to
concentrate urine, increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with hypovolemia
14. Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body mass,
osteoporosis, changes in joints and cartilage, c spine degenerative
changes and loss of skin elastin and subcutaneous fat: resulting in increased risk
for fractures, decreased mobility, diflculty for oral intubation, risk of skin injury, increased risk for
hypothermia, challenges in rehabiliation
15. Functional changes in Endocrine system include decreased
production and response to thyroxin and decreased
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): resulting in occult hypothyroidism, relative
hypercortisone states and increased risk of infection
16. True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and cervical
spine. Patients can have multilevel degenerative changes affecting
disk spaces and posterior elements associated with severe central
canal stenosis, cord compression, and myelomalacia: true
17. In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary
system, placing a gauze between gums and cheek to achieve seal
when using bag valve mask ventilation is okay. In addition, because
aging causes a suppressed heart rate response to hypoxia......: respiratory
failure may present insidiously in older adults.
18. Age related changes in the cardiovascular system place the
elderly trauma patient at significant risk for being inaccurately
categorized as hemodynami- cally stable.: Elderly patients have a fixed heart rate and
fixed cardiac output, thus, their response to hypovolemia will involve increasing their systemic vascular
resistance. Furthermore, since older patients have HTN, an acceptable BP may truly reflect a hypotensive
state. A systolic BP of 110 is to be utilized as the threshold for identifying hypotension in patients 65
, ATLS EXAM
Study online at
and older.
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv
19. Do no equate blood pressure with shock in older patients: BP in
older patients may look normal due to the medications they are on. Use lactate and base deficit
to evaluate for evidence of shock
Study online at
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv
1. True or false? Although the mechanism of injury may be similar to
those for the younger population, data shows increased mortality
with similar severity of injury in older adults.: True
2. In the elderly population, what is decreased physiological reserve?:
aging is characterized by impaired adaptive and homeostatic mechanisms that caused an increased
susceptibility to the stress of injury. Insults tolerated by the younger population can lead to devastating
results in elderly patients.
3. Pre-existing conditions that affect morbidity and mortality include::
cirrhosis, coagulopathy, COPD, ischemic heart disease, DM
4. What is the most common mechanism of injury in the elderly?: Fall.
Nonfatal falls are common in women and fractures are common in women who fall. Falls are the
most common cause of TBI.
5. In the elderly population, what are risk factors for falls?: advanced
age, physical impairment, history of previous fall, medication use, dementia, unsteady gait, and
visual, cognitive impairment
6. Most of elderly traffic fatalities occur in the daytime and on
weekends and typically involve other vehicles. Why?: Older people drive on more
familiar roads and at lower speeds and tend to drive during the day. Older people have slower
reaction time, a larger blind spot, limited cervical mobility, decreased hearing, and cognitive
impairment.
7. True or False? Mortality associated with small to moderate
sized burns in older adults remains high: True
8. Spilled hot liquids on the leg, which in younger patients may re-
epithelialize due to an adequate number of hair follicles, will result
in a full thickness burn in older patients.: this is true
9. Airway-patients may have dentures that may loosen or obstruct the
airway. If dentures are not obstructing the airway, leave them in place
for what?: bag mask ventilation, as it improves mask fitting.
10. When preforming rapid sequence intubation, the dose of
benzos, barbitu- rates, and other sedatives should be reduced to
what percentage to minimize the risk of cardiovascular depression?:
20-40%
, ATLS EXAM
Study online at
11. Functional changes
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv in cardiac system include declining
function, decreased sensitivity to catecholamines, atherosclerosis of
coronary vessels, increased afterload, fixed heart rate (beta blockers): this
results in lack of classic response to hypovolemia, risk for cardiac ischemia, elevated BP at
baseline, and increased risk of dysrythmias.
, ATLS EXAM
Study online at
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv
12. Functional changes in pulmonary system include decreased
elastic recoil, reduced residual capacity, decreased gas exchange
and decreased cough re- flex: thus they are at increased risk for respiratory failure,
increased risk for pneumonia, and poor tolerance to rib fractures
13. Functional changes in renal system include loss of renal
mass, decreased GFR, and decreased sensitivity to ADH and
aldosterone: resulting in drug dosing for renal insuflciency, decreased ability to
concentrate urine, increased risk for AKI and urine flow may be normal with hypovolemia
14. Functional changes to MSK include loss of lean body mass,
osteoporosis, changes in joints and cartilage, c spine degenerative
changes and loss of skin elastin and subcutaneous fat: resulting in increased risk
for fractures, decreased mobility, diflculty for oral intubation, risk of skin injury, increased risk for
hypothermia, challenges in rehabiliation
15. Functional changes in Endocrine system include decreased
production and response to thyroxin and decreased
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): resulting in occult hypothyroidism, relative
hypercortisone states and increased risk of infection
16. True or false: Arthritis can complicate the airway and cervical
spine. Patients can have multilevel degenerative changes affecting
disk spaces and posterior elements associated with severe central
canal stenosis, cord compression, and myelomalacia: true
17. In elderly population, due to their changes in pulmonary
system, placing a gauze between gums and cheek to achieve seal
when using bag valve mask ventilation is okay. In addition, because
aging causes a suppressed heart rate response to hypoxia......: respiratory
failure may present insidiously in older adults.
18. Age related changes in the cardiovascular system place the
elderly trauma patient at significant risk for being inaccurately
categorized as hemodynami- cally stable.: Elderly patients have a fixed heart rate and
fixed cardiac output, thus, their response to hypovolemia will involve increasing their systemic vascular
resistance. Furthermore, since older patients have HTN, an acceptable BP may truly reflect a hypotensive
state. A systolic BP of 110 is to be utilized as the threshold for identifying hypotension in patients 65
, ATLS EXAM
Study online at
and older.
https://quizlet.com/_il9vxv
19. Do no equate blood pressure with shock in older patients: BP in
older patients may look normal due to the medications they are on. Use lactate and base deficit
to evaluate for evidence of shock
