POSTEST ATLS EXAM 2 COMPREHENSIVE
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
◉ 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 conversational
during transportation. 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 patient is in a postictal state
D. Intra-abdominal visceral injury is unlikely
E. The patient probably has an acute epidural hematoma. Answer: E.
The patient probably has an acute epidural hematoma
◉ A previously healthy, 70kg (175 pound) man suffers an estimated
acute blood loss of two liters. Which one of the following statements
apply to this patient?
A. His pulse pressure will be widened
B. His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal
C. He will have tachycardia, but no change in systolic blood pressure
,D. His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed,
pulse pressure
E. His systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated
diastolic pressure.. Answer: E. His systolic blood pressure will be
maintained with an elevated diastolic pressure.
◉ The physioclogic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical
significance in the management of the severely injured gravid
woman by
A. Reducing the need for blood transfusion
B. Increasing the risk of pulmonary edema
C. Complicating the management of closed head injury
D. Increasing the volume of blood loss to produce shock/maternal
hypotension
E. Reducing the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation.
Answer: D. Increasing the volume of blood loss to produce shock
◉ A 17-year-old helmeted motorcyclist loses consciousness when he
is struck broad side by an automobile at an intersection. He arrives
in the ED with a blood pressure of 140/92, pulse rate 88 beats per
minute, a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minue, and a GCS of 7.
Appropriate initial immobilization of this patient should include a
semi-rigid cervical collar and:
A. A scoop stretcher
B. A long spine board
,C. A short spine board
D. Cervical traction tongs
E. Pneumatic antishock garment. Answer: B. A long spine board
◉ During an altercation, a 36-year-old man sustains a gunshot
wound above the nipple line on the right, with an exit wound
posteriorly above the scapula on the right. He is transported by
ambulance to a community hospital. He is endotracheally intubated,
close tube thoracostomy is performed, and 2 liters Ringers lactate
solution are infused via 2 large-caliber IV´s. His blood pressure now
is 60/0mmHg, heart rate is 160 beats per minute, and respiratory
rate is 14 breaths per minute (ventilated with 100% O2). The most
appropriate next step in managin this patient is:
A. Laparotomy
B. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
C. Arterial blood gas determination
D. Administer packed red blood cells
E. Chest X-ray to confirm tube placement. Answer: E. Chest X-ray to
confirm tube placement
◉ Abscence of breath sounds and dullness to percussion over the
left hemithorax are findings best explained by:
A. Left hemothorax
B. Cardiac contusion
, C. Left simple pneumothorax
D. Left diaphragmatic rupture
E. Right tension pneumothorax. Answer: A. Left hemothorax
◉ A 23-year-old man is brought immediately to the ED from the
hospitals parking lot where he was shot in the lower abdomen.
Examination reveals a single bullet wound. He is breathing and has a
thready pulse. However, he is unconsious and has no detectable
blood pressure. Optimale immediate management is to:
A. Perform a diagnostic peritoneal lavage
B. Initiate infusion of packed red blood cells
C. Insert a nasogastric tube and urinary catheter
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid
therapy
E. Initiate fluid therapy to return his blood pressure to
normotensive. Answer: D. Transfer the patient to the operating
room, while initiating fluid therapy
◉ A teen-aged bicycle rider is hit by a truck traveling at high speed.
In the ED, she is actively bleeding from open fractures of her legs,
and has abrasions on her chest and abdominal wall. Her blood
pressure is 80/50 mmHg, heart rate is 140 beats per minute,
respiratory rate is 8 breaths per minute, and GCS score is 6. The first
step in managing this patient is to:
A. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
SCRIPT 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
◉ 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 conversational
during transportation. 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 patient is in a postictal state
D. Intra-abdominal visceral injury is unlikely
E. The patient probably has an acute epidural hematoma. Answer: E.
The patient probably has an acute epidural hematoma
◉ A previously healthy, 70kg (175 pound) man suffers an estimated
acute blood loss of two liters. Which one of the following statements
apply to this patient?
A. His pulse pressure will be widened
B. His urinary output will be at the lower limits of normal
C. He will have tachycardia, but no change in systolic blood pressure
,D. His systolic blood pressure will be decreased with a narrowed,
pulse pressure
E. His systolic blood pressure will be maintained with an elevated
diastolic pressure.. Answer: E. His systolic blood pressure will be
maintained with an elevated diastolic pressure.
◉ The physioclogic hypervolemia of pregnancy has clinical
significance in the management of the severely injured gravid
woman by
A. Reducing the need for blood transfusion
B. Increasing the risk of pulmonary edema
C. Complicating the management of closed head injury
D. Increasing the volume of blood loss to produce shock/maternal
hypotension
E. Reducing the volume of crystalloid required for resuscitation.
Answer: D. Increasing the volume of blood loss to produce shock
◉ A 17-year-old helmeted motorcyclist loses consciousness when he
is struck broad side by an automobile at an intersection. He arrives
in the ED with a blood pressure of 140/92, pulse rate 88 beats per
minute, a respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minue, and a GCS of 7.
Appropriate initial immobilization of this patient should include a
semi-rigid cervical collar and:
A. A scoop stretcher
B. A long spine board
,C. A short spine board
D. Cervical traction tongs
E. Pneumatic antishock garment. Answer: B. A long spine board
◉ During an altercation, a 36-year-old man sustains a gunshot
wound above the nipple line on the right, with an exit wound
posteriorly above the scapula on the right. He is transported by
ambulance to a community hospital. He is endotracheally intubated,
close tube thoracostomy is performed, and 2 liters Ringers lactate
solution are infused via 2 large-caliber IV´s. His blood pressure now
is 60/0mmHg, heart rate is 160 beats per minute, and respiratory
rate is 14 breaths per minute (ventilated with 100% O2). The most
appropriate next step in managin this patient is:
A. Laparotomy
B. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage
C. Arterial blood gas determination
D. Administer packed red blood cells
E. Chest X-ray to confirm tube placement. Answer: E. Chest X-ray to
confirm tube placement
◉ Abscence of breath sounds and dullness to percussion over the
left hemithorax are findings best explained by:
A. Left hemothorax
B. Cardiac contusion
, C. Left simple pneumothorax
D. Left diaphragmatic rupture
E. Right tension pneumothorax. Answer: A. Left hemothorax
◉ A 23-year-old man is brought immediately to the ED from the
hospitals parking lot where he was shot in the lower abdomen.
Examination reveals a single bullet wound. He is breathing and has a
thready pulse. However, he is unconsious and has no detectable
blood pressure. Optimale immediate management is to:
A. Perform a diagnostic peritoneal lavage
B. Initiate infusion of packed red blood cells
C. Insert a nasogastric tube and urinary catheter
D. Transfer the patient to the operating room, while initiating fluid
therapy
E. Initiate fluid therapy to return his blood pressure to
normotensive. Answer: D. Transfer the patient to the operating
room, while initiating fluid therapy
◉ A teen-aged bicycle rider is hit by a truck traveling at high speed.
In the ED, she is actively bleeding from open fractures of her legs,
and has abrasions on her chest and abdominal wall. Her blood
pressure is 80/50 mmHg, heart rate is 140 beats per minute,
respiratory rate is 8 breaths per minute, and GCS score is 6. The first
step in managing this patient is to:
A. Obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
