PHTLS COMPREHENSIVE EXAM UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following behaviors is the most reliable indication of confusion in the
elderly trauma patient?
A. Inability to recall his/her name
B. Inability to recall the day of the week
C. Inability to identify his/her present location when out of his/her normal residence
D. Focus on repeated retelling of events that occurred years ago - ✔✔A. Inability to
recall his/her name
✔✔In the elderly trauma patient a high index of suspicion for shock should occur
beginning when the systolic blood pressure is less than:
A. 90 mmHg
B. 150 mmHg
C. 120 mmHg
D. 100 mmHg - ✔✔C. 120 mmHg
✔✔In an adult patient, blood loss into the tissue from a fractured femur may be as much
as which of the following?
A. 150 to 500 mL
B. 500 to 1000 mL
C. 1000 2000 mL
D. 2500 to 5000 mL - ✔✔C. 1000 2000 mL
✔✔Delayed death due to trauma is usually a result of:
A. Biochemical and pathophysiological effects of inadequate initial resuscitation
B. Acute circulatory failure
C. Brain injury
D. Acute hypoxia - ✔✔A. Biochemical and pathophysiological effects of inadequate
initial resuscitation
✔✔A regional resource center with a full spectrum of trauma services from prevention to
rehabilitation which serves as the leader in trauma care for a geographical region is a:
A. Level IV trauma center
B. Level III trauma center
C. Level II trauma center
D. Level I trauma center - ✔✔D. Level I trauma center
✔✔Which of the following patients is not indicated for spinal immobilization?
, A. Intoxicated patient in a MVC
B. Patient who fell 8 feet and lost consciousness
C. Patient complaining of pain on palpation of the neck
D. Patient with a knife wound to the chest and a GCS of 15 - ✔✔D. Patient with a knife
wound to the chest and a GCS of 15
✔✔The premise of PHTLS is that:
A. EMTs must treat all trauma patient based on protocols
B. EMTs are capable of sound patient care judgment, given an adequate knowledge
base
C. EMTs must work only under on-line medical direction when caring for trauma
patients
D. EMTs are capable of working independently of medical direction - ✔✔B. EMTs are
capable of sound patient care judgment, given an adequate knowledge base
✔✔Which of the following warrants classification of a patient as a critical trauma
patient?
A. An extremity fracture
B. Preexisting major medical problem
C. Bleeding from the nose
D. Deployment of air bags in a motor vehicle crash - ✔✔B. Preexisting major medical
problem
✔✔Which of the following is the foundation of effective trauma care?
A. Protocols permitting invasive airway procedures
B. The ability to administer large amounts of crystalloid fluids
C. The ability to quickly locate and manage life-threatening and potentially life-
threatening injuries
D. Effective spinal immobilization skills - ✔✔C. The ability to quickly locate and manage
life-threatening and potentially life-threatening injuries
✔✔You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle collision in which a vehicle struck a tree.
Which is the best indicator of potential injury?
A. Circumference of the vehicle
B. Diameter of the tree
C. Mass of the vehicle
D. Speed of the vehicle - ✔✔D. Speed of the vehicle
✔✔The potential for death or serious injury is greatest in which of the following motor
vehicle collisions?
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following behaviors is the most reliable indication of confusion in the
elderly trauma patient?
A. Inability to recall his/her name
B. Inability to recall the day of the week
C. Inability to identify his/her present location when out of his/her normal residence
D. Focus on repeated retelling of events that occurred years ago - ✔✔A. Inability to
recall his/her name
✔✔In the elderly trauma patient a high index of suspicion for shock should occur
beginning when the systolic blood pressure is less than:
A. 90 mmHg
B. 150 mmHg
C. 120 mmHg
D. 100 mmHg - ✔✔C. 120 mmHg
✔✔In an adult patient, blood loss into the tissue from a fractured femur may be as much
as which of the following?
A. 150 to 500 mL
B. 500 to 1000 mL
C. 1000 2000 mL
D. 2500 to 5000 mL - ✔✔C. 1000 2000 mL
✔✔Delayed death due to trauma is usually a result of:
A. Biochemical and pathophysiological effects of inadequate initial resuscitation
B. Acute circulatory failure
C. Brain injury
D. Acute hypoxia - ✔✔A. Biochemical and pathophysiological effects of inadequate
initial resuscitation
✔✔A regional resource center with a full spectrum of trauma services from prevention to
rehabilitation which serves as the leader in trauma care for a geographical region is a:
A. Level IV trauma center
B. Level III trauma center
C. Level II trauma center
D. Level I trauma center - ✔✔D. Level I trauma center
✔✔Which of the following patients is not indicated for spinal immobilization?
, A. Intoxicated patient in a MVC
B. Patient who fell 8 feet and lost consciousness
C. Patient complaining of pain on palpation of the neck
D. Patient with a knife wound to the chest and a GCS of 15 - ✔✔D. Patient with a knife
wound to the chest and a GCS of 15
✔✔The premise of PHTLS is that:
A. EMTs must treat all trauma patient based on protocols
B. EMTs are capable of sound patient care judgment, given an adequate knowledge
base
C. EMTs must work only under on-line medical direction when caring for trauma
patients
D. EMTs are capable of working independently of medical direction - ✔✔B. EMTs are
capable of sound patient care judgment, given an adequate knowledge base
✔✔Which of the following warrants classification of a patient as a critical trauma
patient?
A. An extremity fracture
B. Preexisting major medical problem
C. Bleeding from the nose
D. Deployment of air bags in a motor vehicle crash - ✔✔B. Preexisting major medical
problem
✔✔Which of the following is the foundation of effective trauma care?
A. Protocols permitting invasive airway procedures
B. The ability to administer large amounts of crystalloid fluids
C. The ability to quickly locate and manage life-threatening and potentially life-
threatening injuries
D. Effective spinal immobilization skills - ✔✔C. The ability to quickly locate and manage
life-threatening and potentially life-threatening injuries
✔✔You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle collision in which a vehicle struck a tree.
Which is the best indicator of potential injury?
A. Circumference of the vehicle
B. Diameter of the tree
C. Mass of the vehicle
D. Speed of the vehicle - ✔✔D. Speed of the vehicle
✔✔The potential for death or serious injury is greatest in which of the following motor
vehicle collisions?
