ATLS EXAM PREP 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains
bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is alert,
vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in both heels
and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses are strong and there is no
other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed
by. Answer: complete spine x-ray series.
◉ The principle of balanced resuscitation is: Answer: Permissive
hypotension and early plasma infusion
◉ Question:4 In managing the head-injured patient, the most important
initial step is to. Answer: secure airway
◉ A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated
acute blood loss of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements
applies to this patient?. Answer: His systolic blood pressure will be
decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
◉ The diagnosis of shock must include. Answer: poor organ perfusion
, ◉ Question:9 A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department
by his parents several minutes after he fell through a window. He is
bleeding profusely from a 6-cm wound of his medial right thigh.
Immediate management of the wound should consist of. Answer: direct
pressure
◉ For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound
hypocarbia should be avoided to prevent. Answer: cerebral
vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion.
◉ Question:11 A 25-year-old man is brought to a hospital with a general
surgeon after being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Computed
tomography shows an aortic injury and splenic laceration with free
abdominal fluid. His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The
next step is. Answer: exploratory laparotomy.
◉ 20-year-old woman, at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper
right chest. In the emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60
mm Hg. She is gasping for breath, extremely anxious, and yelling for
help. Breath sounds are diminished in the right chest. The most
appropriate first step is to. Answer: perform needle decompression of the
right chest.
◉ Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to
require immediate management during the primary survey?. Answer:
resp of 40/mi
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains
bilateral calcaneal fractures. In the emergency department, he is alert,
vital signs are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in both heels
and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses are strong and there is no
other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed
by. Answer: complete spine x-ray series.
◉ The principle of balanced resuscitation is: Answer: Permissive
hypotension and early plasma infusion
◉ Question:4 In managing the head-injured patient, the most important
initial step is to. Answer: secure airway
◉ A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man suffers an estimated
acute blood loss of 2 liters. Which one of the following statements
applies to this patient?. Answer: His systolic blood pressure will be
decreased with a narrowed pulse pressure.
◉ The diagnosis of shock must include. Answer: poor organ perfusion
, ◉ Question:9 A 7-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department
by his parents several minutes after he fell through a window. He is
bleeding profusely from a 6-cm wound of his medial right thigh.
Immediate management of the wound should consist of. Answer: direct
pressure
◉ For the patient with severe traumatic brain injury, profound
hypocarbia should be avoided to prevent. Answer: cerebral
vasoconstriction with diminished perfusion.
◉ Question:11 A 25-year-old man is brought to a hospital with a general
surgeon after being involved in a motor vehicle crash. Computed
tomography shows an aortic injury and splenic laceration with free
abdominal fluid. His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The
next step is. Answer: exploratory laparotomy.
◉ 20-year-old woman, at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper
right chest. In the emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60
mm Hg. She is gasping for breath, extremely anxious, and yelling for
help. Breath sounds are diminished in the right chest. The most
appropriate first step is to. Answer: perform needle decompression of the
right chest.
◉ Which one of the following findings in an adult is most likely to
require immediate management during the primary survey?. Answer:
resp of 40/mi
