ATLS Practice Test 6
1. A 25-year-old male is brought in after a motorcycle crash. He is unconscious, has gurgling
respirations, and blood in his oropharynx. What is the first priority in his airway management?
a. rapid sequence intubation
b. suctioning the oropharynx
c. cricothyroidotomy
d. bag-mask ventilation
e. insertion of an oral airway
2. Which of the following is the most immediate life-threatening chest injury that requires needle
decompression?
a. flail chest
b. massive hemothorax
c. tension pneumothorax
d. cardiac tamponade
e. open pneumothorax
3. A 17-year-old helmeted motorcyclist is struck broadside by an automobile at an intersection. He
is unconscious at the scene with a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg, heart rate of 90 beats per
minute, and respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute. His respirations are sonorous and deep. His
GCS score is 8. Immobilization of the entire patient may include the use of all the following
EXCEPT
a. air splints
b. bolstering devices
c. a long spine board
d. a scoop-style stretcher
e. a semirigid cervical collar
4. A 35-year-old male with blunt trauma has a GCS of 6. Pupils are unequal. What is the next best
step?
a. mannitol IV and observe
b. RSI and hyperventilate; urgent neurosurgical consultation
c. place in Trendelenburg position, cricothyrotomy; urgent neurosurgical consultation
d. Dexamethtasone IV
e. noncontrast head CT
1
, 5. A 54-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a motorcycle accident. He is
complaining of severe right hip pain and is unable to bear weight on the affected leg. On physical
examination, you note shortening and marked external rotation of the right lower extremity.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. pubic symphysis diastasis
b. hip fracture
c. pelvic fracture
d. femur fracture
e. hip dislocation
6. A patient arrives hypotensive after a stab wound to the abdomen. Which of the following is most
appropriate?
a. CT abdomen with contrast
b. FAST exam and laparotomy if positive
c. RSI
d. give vasopressors to normalize BP
e. plain abdominal radiographs
7. A crosstable lateral x-ray of the cervical spine
a. must precede endotracheal intubation.
b. excludes serious cervical spine injury.
c. is an essential part of the primary survey.
d. is not necessary for unconscious patients with penetrating cervical injuries.
e. is unacceptable unless 7 cervical vertebrae and the C-7 to T-1 relationship are visualized.
8. Which of the following is true regarding pediatric airway management?
a. cricothyroidotomy is the first-line surgical airway in children under 12
b. children desaturate more slowly than adults
c. the narrowest part of the airway is the cricoid cartilage
d. a cuffed endotracheal tube is contraindicated in all pediatric patients
e. children have relatively smaller tongues
9. A 30-year-old man with 40% TBSA burns is brought to the ED. He has been receiving LR at 500
mL/hr for the past 30 minutes since the injury. His ideal body weight is 80 kg. The primary
survey has just been completed. The infusion rate should now be adjusted to:
a. 800 mL/hr
b. 600 mL/hr
c. 400 mL/hr
d. 300 mL/hr
e. 200 mL/hr
2
1. A 25-year-old male is brought in after a motorcycle crash. He is unconscious, has gurgling
respirations, and blood in his oropharynx. What is the first priority in his airway management?
a. rapid sequence intubation
b. suctioning the oropharynx
c. cricothyroidotomy
d. bag-mask ventilation
e. insertion of an oral airway
2. Which of the following is the most immediate life-threatening chest injury that requires needle
decompression?
a. flail chest
b. massive hemothorax
c. tension pneumothorax
d. cardiac tamponade
e. open pneumothorax
3. A 17-year-old helmeted motorcyclist is struck broadside by an automobile at an intersection. He
is unconscious at the scene with a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg, heart rate of 90 beats per
minute, and respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute. His respirations are sonorous and deep. His
GCS score is 8. Immobilization of the entire patient may include the use of all the following
EXCEPT
a. air splints
b. bolstering devices
c. a long spine board
d. a scoop-style stretcher
e. a semirigid cervical collar
4. A 35-year-old male with blunt trauma has a GCS of 6. Pupils are unequal. What is the next best
step?
a. mannitol IV and observe
b. RSI and hyperventilate; urgent neurosurgical consultation
c. place in Trendelenburg position, cricothyrotomy; urgent neurosurgical consultation
d. Dexamethtasone IV
e. noncontrast head CT
1
, 5. A 54-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a motorcycle accident. He is
complaining of severe right hip pain and is unable to bear weight on the affected leg. On physical
examination, you note shortening and marked external rotation of the right lower extremity.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. pubic symphysis diastasis
b. hip fracture
c. pelvic fracture
d. femur fracture
e. hip dislocation
6. A patient arrives hypotensive after a stab wound to the abdomen. Which of the following is most
appropriate?
a. CT abdomen with contrast
b. FAST exam and laparotomy if positive
c. RSI
d. give vasopressors to normalize BP
e. plain abdominal radiographs
7. A crosstable lateral x-ray of the cervical spine
a. must precede endotracheal intubation.
b. excludes serious cervical spine injury.
c. is an essential part of the primary survey.
d. is not necessary for unconscious patients with penetrating cervical injuries.
e. is unacceptable unless 7 cervical vertebrae and the C-7 to T-1 relationship are visualized.
8. Which of the following is true regarding pediatric airway management?
a. cricothyroidotomy is the first-line surgical airway in children under 12
b. children desaturate more slowly than adults
c. the narrowest part of the airway is the cricoid cartilage
d. a cuffed endotracheal tube is contraindicated in all pediatric patients
e. children have relatively smaller tongues
9. A 30-year-old man with 40% TBSA burns is brought to the ED. He has been receiving LR at 500
mL/hr for the past 30 minutes since the injury. His ideal body weight is 80 kg. The primary
survey has just been completed. The infusion rate should now be adjusted to:
a. 800 mL/hr
b. 600 mL/hr
c. 400 mL/hr
d. 300 mL/hr
e. 200 mL/hr
2
