PHTLS Pre & Post Test (2026) – 110 Questions on Trauma Assessment, Shock, Airway & Critical Care

This document contains approximately 110 comprehensive exam-style questions with verified correct answers for the PHTLS Pre & Post Test 2026. The material thoroughly covers prehospital trauma assessment, shock recognition, airway management, hemorrhage control, spinal immobilization, burn care, traumatic brain injury (TBI), thoracic trauma, abdominal injuries, pediatric and geriatric considerations, and trauma triage principles. Early sections (pages 1–4) review key trauma pathophysiology concepts including cavitation, velocity as the most important determinant of injury severity, isotonic crystalloid selection (Lactated Ringer’s), critical fall height (3 times patient height), blast injury phases (primary phase), ABCDE priorities (Expose/Environment), and the Golden Period for surgical intervention. Airway and ventilation management are extensively covered, including adequate tidal volume (600 mL at 12/min), essential airway skills (oropharyngeal airway insertion), complications of oxygen-powered ventilation devices, percutaneous transtracheal ventilation ratios (1:4), endotracheal tube verification (capnography preferred), and differentiation of tension pneumothorax versus cardiac tamponade (pages 7–10, 28–34). Thoracic trauma topics include needle decompression at the 2nd intercostal space midclavicular line, pulmonary contusion pathophysiology (blood in alveoli), hemothorax, flail chest, and ruptured diaphragm after blunt trauma. Shock and resuscitation principles are emphasized, including early anxiety as a sign of hypovolemic shock, sympathetic nervous system compensation, washout phase systemic acidosis, permissive hypotension targets (80–90 mmHg in hemorrhage), fluid limitations, hemorrhagic vs neurogenic shock differentiation via skin findings, and the importance of direct pressure followed by tourniquet application for uncontrolled extremity bleeding (pages 12–14, 31–37). Neurologic injury coverage includes Cushing’s response, herniation ventilation rate (20 breaths per minute), spinal cord injury presentations, compartment syndrome early signs (tense swelling), femur fracture blood loss (1000–2000 mL), and GCS scoring including intubated patients (8T) (pages 16–23). Burn and special population considerations include burn unit transport criteria (electrical burns), dry sterile dressings as preferred prehospital treatment, rectal temperature for hypothermia severity, pediatric physiologic differences (lower BP, higher HR and RR), elderly shock thresholds (120 mmHg systolic), pregnancy positioning to prevent vena cava compression, and fetal survival dependent on maternal resuscitation (pages 19–23, 35–36). The structured question-and-answer format mirrors official PHTLS pretest and posttest certification standards and reinforces rapid trauma prioritization, evidence-based prehospital interventions, shock management strategies, mechanism-of-injury analysis, and critical decision-making in the field. This resource is particularly relevant for: Paramedic students EMT and Advanced EMT programs PHTLS certification candidates Prehospital trauma providers Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals Firefighter/Rescue personnel preparing for trauma exams Keywords: PHTLS pre and post test 2026, prehospital trauma life support exam questions, cavitation trauma, ABCDE trauma assessment, Golden period trauma care, needle decompression 2nd intercostal space MCL, hypovolemic shock early signs anxiety, permissive hypotension 80 90 mmHg, hemorrhagic vs neurogenic shock differentiation, tourniquet application trauma, pulmonary contusion alveoli blood, GCS 8T intubated patient, compartment syndrome tense swelling, femur fracture blood loss mL, burn unit criteria electrical burns, dry sterile burn dressing, spinal cord injury presentations, capnography ET tube verification, sympathetic nervous system shock response, trauma triage criteria