ATLS Thoracic Trauma Exam Questions and Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Guaranteed Pass

ATLS Thoracic Trauma Exam Questions and Answers | Latest Update 2026 | Guaranteed Pass most thoracic traumas can be tx by the technical procedures w/in the scope of _____ - answer-ATLS how does hypoxia occur in thoracic trauma - answer-d/t contusion, hematoma, alveolar collapse lead to metabolic acidosis how does hypercarbia occur in thoracic trauma - answer-d/t inadequate ventilation from dec LOC or changes in intrathoracic pressure leads to resp acidosis how does acidosis occur in thoracic trauma - answer-d/t overwhelmed metabolic buffering system how is hypoxia the cornerstone of thoracic trauma management - answer--its the most serious consequence of chest injury -goal of early intervention is to prevent or correct hypoxia what does our initial assessment and tx of thoracic trauma consist of - answer-primary and secondary ATLS survey go look at jenna's quizlet for that why is it critical to recognize and address major injuries affecting airway during the primary survey of thoracic trauma - answer-obstruction can occur from swelling, bleeding, vomit aspirated in the airwayleads to impaired gas exchange familiarize yourself with the zones of injury in the neck (pic is all we got sorry) - answerzone 1 penetrating neck injury - answer-clavicles/sternum to the cricoid cartilage zone 2 penetrating neck injury - answer-cricoid cartilage to the angle of the mandible zone 3 penetrating neck injuury - answer-superior to the angle of the mandible to skull area what determines penetrating injury to the neck - answer-violation of the platysma muscle ex. gunshot or stab wounds what should we look for when you're concerned for potential airway obstruction in a thoracic trauma pt - answer--evidence of air hunger -inspect oropharynx for obstruction -listen for air movement in nose, mouth, lung fields -changes in voice quality -crepitus in anterior neck sx of air hunger - answer-intercostal and supraclavicular muscle retractions what does airway obstruction sound like in terms of air movement - answer-stridor: obstruction in upper airway wheeze: obstruction in lower airway causes of tracheobronchial tree injuries - answer--rapid deceleration following blunt trauma-blast injury -penetrating trauma -intubation (worsens injuries) sx of TB tree injury - answer--hemoptysis -cervical SQ emphysema -tension PTX -cyanosis -incomplete expansion of the lung -cont large air leak after chest tube placement how do we confirm TB tree injury - answer-bronchoscopy -visualize injury/confirm -consider possible mainstem placmeent of the tube -get stat CT surgical consult if suspecting TB tree injury tx of TB tree injury - answer--intubation may be required, be prepared to use fiber optic scope for intubation -may be difficult d/t distortion of airway from paratracheal hematoma, oropharyngeal injuries, injury to TB tree itself ______ _______ and ______ need to be recognized and tx during the primary ATLS survey - answer- -tension pneumothorax -open pneumothorax (sucking chest wound) -massive hemothorax pathophys of tension pneumothorax - answer--one way valve air leak occurs from lung or through chest wall -air is forced into pleural space, can't escape, lung collapses-mediastinum is displaced away from affected side dec venous return, compresses opposite lung -obstructive shock occurs what is the most common cause of tension pneumothorax - answer-mechanical positive pressure ventilation in a pt w a visceral pleural injury how does a tension PTX occur from a simple PTX - answer-becomes tension PTX if after the blunt or penetrating trauma, the injured parenchyma doesn't seal breathing patterns for tension PTX - answer--spontaneously breathing pts: extreme tachypnea, air hunger -mech vent pts: hemodynamic collapse tension PTX s/sx - answer--chest pain -air hunger -tachypnea -resp distress -tachycardia -HoTN -trachial deviation to the opposite side of injury -absence of breath sounds on one side (initially) -neck vein distention -cyanosis (late) management of tension PTX - answer-immediate decompression (initially w large bore over the needle cath into pleural space) why is needle decompression not always successful for tension PTX - answer--cath kinking -anatomic anomalieswhat method of immediate decompression should you use for tension PTX if needle decompression didn't work - answer-finger thoracostomy where is decompression done in tension PTX - answer-4-5th intercostal space over the anterior axillary line this is shown to be better than the 2-3rd intercostal space midclavicular line technically successful needle decompression converts a ______ PTX to a _______ PTX - answer-tension simple placement of a ____ ____ is MANDATORY after needle or finger decompression of the chest - answer-tube thoracostomy (chest tube) pathophys of open PTX (look at the pic for this i think its helpful) - answer--d/t large injury to the chest -equilibrium of the intrathoracic and atmospheric pressures is immediate -air follows path of least resistance, preferentially passes through chest wall when the opening is 2/3 the diamter of the trachea or more -effective ventilation is impaired, hypoxia and hypercarbia occur clinical s/sx of open PTX - answer--pain -difficulty breathing -tachypnea -dec breath sounds on the affected side -nosiy air movement through the chest wall injury