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ATLS POST TEST 2026 100% PASS ASSURED
EXAMINATION SOLUTIONS
A 22 year old male is brought by ambulance to
a small community hospital after falling from
the top of an 8 foot ladder. Initially, he was
found to have a large right pneumothorax. A
chest tube was inserted and connected to an
underwater seal drainage collection system
with negative pressure. A repeat CXR
demonstrates a residual, large right
pneumothorax. After transferring the patient
to a verified trauma center, a third chest x-
ray reveals a persistent right pneumothorax.
The chest tube appears to be functioning and
in good position. He remains hemodynamically
normal with no signs of respiratory distress.
The most likely cause for the persistent right
pneumothorax is:
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmatic injury
C. Pulmonary contusion
D. Esophageal perforation
E. Tracheobronchial injury - correct answer-
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Which of the following is LEAST reliable for
diagnosing ESOPHAGEAL intubation?
A. symmetrical chest wall movement
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B. end-tidal CO2
C. bilateral breath sounds
D. oxygen saturation >92%
E. ETT above carina on chest x-ray - correct
answer- D. oxygen saturation >92%
-> if it says ESOPHAGEAL, go with this answer
Which of the following signs necessitates the
need for a definitive airway in severe trauma
patient?
A. facial lacerations
B. repeated vomiting
C. severe maxillofacial trauma
D. sternal fracture
E. GCS 12 - correct answer- C. Severe
maxillofacial trauma
Twenty seven people are severely injured in an
aircraft crash at a local airport. The
principles of triage include:
A. establish a triage site within the internal
perimeter of the crash site
B. treat only the most severely injured
patients first
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C. immediately transport all patients to the
nearest hospital
D. treat the greatest number of patients in
the shortest period of time
E. produce the greatest number of survivors
based on available resources - correct answer-
E. Produce the greatest number of survivors
based on available resources
Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an
intracerebral hematoma
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the
frontal region
C. Subdural hematomas are caused by injury to
the middle meningeal artery
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a
lenticular shape on CT
E. The associated brain damage is more severe
in epidural hematomas - correct answer- A.
Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an
intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
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An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after
being shot. He has one bullet wound just below
the right clavicle and another just below the
costal margin in the right posterior axillary
line. His blood pressure is 110/60, heart rate
of 90, and respiratory rate of 34. After
ensuring a patent airway and inserting 2 large
caliber IV lines, the next most appropriate
step is to:
A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
B. Administer a bolus of additional IV fluid
C. Perform a laparatomy
D. Obtain an abdominal CT scan
E. Perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage -
correct answer- A. Obtain a portable chest x-
ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
Which of the following should be performed
FIRST in any patient whose injuries may
include multiple closed extremity fractures?
A. A thorough assessment of four limb
perfusion
B. Manuevers to prevent necrosis of the skin
C. Extremity compartment syndrome release
D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation and
ventilation
ATLS POST TEST 2026 100% PASS ASSURED
EXAMINATION SOLUTIONS
A 22 year old male is brought by ambulance to
a small community hospital after falling from
the top of an 8 foot ladder. Initially, he was
found to have a large right pneumothorax. A
chest tube was inserted and connected to an
underwater seal drainage collection system
with negative pressure. A repeat CXR
demonstrates a residual, large right
pneumothorax. After transferring the patient
to a verified trauma center, a third chest x-
ray reveals a persistent right pneumothorax.
The chest tube appears to be functioning and
in good position. He remains hemodynamically
normal with no signs of respiratory distress.
The most likely cause for the persistent right
pneumothorax is:
A. Flail chest
B. Diaphragmatic injury
C. Pulmonary contusion
D. Esophageal perforation
E. Tracheobronchial injury - correct answer-
E. Tracheobronchial injury
Which of the following is LEAST reliable for
diagnosing ESOPHAGEAL intubation?
A. symmetrical chest wall movement
,2 | Page
B. end-tidal CO2
C. bilateral breath sounds
D. oxygen saturation >92%
E. ETT above carina on chest x-ray - correct
answer- D. oxygen saturation >92%
-> if it says ESOPHAGEAL, go with this answer
Which of the following signs necessitates the
need for a definitive airway in severe trauma
patient?
A. facial lacerations
B. repeated vomiting
C. severe maxillofacial trauma
D. sternal fracture
E. GCS 12 - correct answer- C. Severe
maxillofacial trauma
Twenty seven people are severely injured in an
aircraft crash at a local airport. The
principles of triage include:
A. establish a triage site within the internal
perimeter of the crash site
B. treat only the most severely injured
patients first
,3 | Page
C. immediately transport all patients to the
nearest hospital
D. treat the greatest number of patients in
the shortest period of time
E. produce the greatest number of survivors
based on available resources - correct answer-
E. Produce the greatest number of survivors
based on available resources
Which of the following statements are correct?
A. Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an
intracerebral hematoma
B. Epidural hematomas are usually seen in the
frontal region
C. Subdural hematomas are caused by injury to
the middle meningeal artery
D. Subdural hematomas typically have a
lenticular shape on CT
E. The associated brain damage is more severe
in epidural hematomas - correct answer- A.
Cerebral contusions may coalesce to form an
intracerebral hematoma
EM: Epidural, middle meningeal
SuB: Subdural, Bridging veins
, 4 | Page
An 18 year old male is brought to the ED after
being shot. He has one bullet wound just below
the right clavicle and another just below the
costal margin in the right posterior axillary
line. His blood pressure is 110/60, heart rate
of 90, and respiratory rate of 34. After
ensuring a patent airway and inserting 2 large
caliber IV lines, the next most appropriate
step is to:
A. Obtain a portable chest x-ray
B. Administer a bolus of additional IV fluid
C. Perform a laparatomy
D. Obtain an abdominal CT scan
E. Perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage -
correct answer- A. Obtain a portable chest x-
ray
need more info on chest, not abdomen
Which of the following should be performed
FIRST in any patient whose injuries may
include multiple closed extremity fractures?
A. A thorough assessment of four limb
perfusion
B. Manuevers to prevent necrosis of the skin
C. Extremity compartment syndrome release
D. Ensuring adequate oxygenation and
ventilation
