1|Page
PHTLS - POST TEST, 10TH EDITION EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027!!
Your partner is compressing the bleeding site of a male patient who was
stabbed multiple times in the left chest. The bleeding seems to be
controlled, yet the patient becomes combative. He is pale and is
breathing rapidly, yet states that he "can't breath" and feels that he is
about to die. Your next step in patient management is to:
A. start assisted ventilations
B. give high-flow oxygen
C. decompress the left chest
D. give a 250-mL fluid bolus ......ANSWER......C. decompress the left
chest
After X come A and B. You can quickly osculate the lungs
(pneumothorax is almost certain with multiple stabs in the chest) and
decompress the chest. Decompressing a tension pneumothorax is the
quickest way to treat shock
The patient's respiration improves markedly, but he remains confused.
He has an absent radial pulse, and his carotid pulse is fast and thready.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Your partner asks if he can let the compression go to put in an IV. How
should you respond?
A. "Oh, yes, that's a great idea!"
B. "Yes, but we have to immobilize him first."
C. "Take a blood pressure first to see if he needs an IV."
D. "No, keep the pressure and let's get out of here!" ......ANSWER......D.
"No, keep the pressure and let's get out of here!"
This patient is likely in decompensated shock with internal bleeding, so
rapid transport is the next priority. You should maintain pressure on the
wound, because having massive external bleeding start up again is the
last thing you want in this situation
well, in route to the hospital, you managed to put an 18 gauge IV in the
right arm. Your patient is still confused, and you still have no radio
pulse. Your next move is to:
A. give 1-L fluid bolts
B. give one 250-mL fluid bolus, and then stop
C. give fluid until you get a radial pulse
D. administer TXA ......ANSWER......C. give fluid until you get a radial
pulse
pg. 2
,3|Page
Now is the time to titrate IV fluids to restore tissue perfusion. Giving 1 L
blindly could overshoot your target pressure and reinforce internal
bleeding. TXA is not a priority, although it can run parallel fluids.
After 400 mL of LR solution, you get a radial pulse and his level of
consciousness improves. The monitor shows heart rate 110 bpm blood
pressure 85/60 mmHg, SPO2 95%, ventilation rate 25 breaths/minute.
What should you do
A. Give an additional 500 mL of LR.
B. Stop fluids and give 2 g of TXA.
C. Give TXA and 500 mL of NS
D. Give 2 mg of morphine for analgesia ......ANSWER......B. Stop fluids
and give 2 g of TXA
The patient does not need more fluids right now. Giving morphine in a
shocked patient is a risky move and could lead to dangerous
hypotension.
You now perform a secondary survey. You notice a sternotomy scar.
Your patient tells you he is on oral clopidogrel since he had a CABG two
years ago. Is this information useful?
A. No, he should stop talking and breathe.
B. Yes, he should see a cardiologist once in the local hospital.
pg. 3
, 4|Page
C. Yes, he will need platelets and a heart surgeon ASAP.
D. Yes, you should raise his blood pressure up to 130 mmHg systolic.
......ANSWER......C. Yes, he will need platelets and a heart surgeon ASAP.
Because he is on clopidogrel, his platelets are out of order for at least 5
days, so he will require urgent platelet transfusion.
You're called out to an assisted living facility for a 72-year-old woman
complaining of a severe headache and experiencing increased
confusion. Staff reports she fell out of her wheelchair earlier in the
week but didn't appear to be hurt; however, she's become increasingly
disoriented over the last day or so. Vital signs show: BP 110/90; heart
rate 118 and irregularly regular; ventilation rate 20 and slightly labored;
SpO, 93% on room air. She is taking warfarin for a clotting issue. Which
of the following should you suspect?
A. Cerebral contusion
B. Epidural hematoma
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Subdural hematoma ......ANSWER......D subdural
Upon examination, you find the patient responsive to your presence,
although she is clearly confused. Motor response shows reduced pain
response but normal flexion. What's her GCS score?
A. 15
B. 12
pg. 4
PHTLS - POST TEST, 10TH EDITION EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS |
VERIFIED | LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027!!
Your partner is compressing the bleeding site of a male patient who was
stabbed multiple times in the left chest. The bleeding seems to be
controlled, yet the patient becomes combative. He is pale and is
breathing rapidly, yet states that he "can't breath" and feels that he is
about to die. Your next step in patient management is to:
A. start assisted ventilations
B. give high-flow oxygen
C. decompress the left chest
D. give a 250-mL fluid bolus ......ANSWER......C. decompress the left
chest
After X come A and B. You can quickly osculate the lungs
(pneumothorax is almost certain with multiple stabs in the chest) and
decompress the chest. Decompressing a tension pneumothorax is the
quickest way to treat shock
The patient's respiration improves markedly, but he remains confused.
He has an absent radial pulse, and his carotid pulse is fast and thready.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Your partner asks if he can let the compression go to put in an IV. How
should you respond?
A. "Oh, yes, that's a great idea!"
B. "Yes, but we have to immobilize him first."
C. "Take a blood pressure first to see if he needs an IV."
D. "No, keep the pressure and let's get out of here!" ......ANSWER......D.
"No, keep the pressure and let's get out of here!"
This patient is likely in decompensated shock with internal bleeding, so
rapid transport is the next priority. You should maintain pressure on the
wound, because having massive external bleeding start up again is the
last thing you want in this situation
well, in route to the hospital, you managed to put an 18 gauge IV in the
right arm. Your patient is still confused, and you still have no radio
pulse. Your next move is to:
A. give 1-L fluid bolts
B. give one 250-mL fluid bolus, and then stop
C. give fluid until you get a radial pulse
D. administer TXA ......ANSWER......C. give fluid until you get a radial
pulse
pg. 2
,3|Page
Now is the time to titrate IV fluids to restore tissue perfusion. Giving 1 L
blindly could overshoot your target pressure and reinforce internal
bleeding. TXA is not a priority, although it can run parallel fluids.
After 400 mL of LR solution, you get a radial pulse and his level of
consciousness improves. The monitor shows heart rate 110 bpm blood
pressure 85/60 mmHg, SPO2 95%, ventilation rate 25 breaths/minute.
What should you do
A. Give an additional 500 mL of LR.
B. Stop fluids and give 2 g of TXA.
C. Give TXA and 500 mL of NS
D. Give 2 mg of morphine for analgesia ......ANSWER......B. Stop fluids
and give 2 g of TXA
The patient does not need more fluids right now. Giving morphine in a
shocked patient is a risky move and could lead to dangerous
hypotension.
You now perform a secondary survey. You notice a sternotomy scar.
Your patient tells you he is on oral clopidogrel since he had a CABG two
years ago. Is this information useful?
A. No, he should stop talking and breathe.
B. Yes, he should see a cardiologist once in the local hospital.
pg. 3
, 4|Page
C. Yes, he will need platelets and a heart surgeon ASAP.
D. Yes, you should raise his blood pressure up to 130 mmHg systolic.
......ANSWER......C. Yes, he will need platelets and a heart surgeon ASAP.
Because he is on clopidogrel, his platelets are out of order for at least 5
days, so he will require urgent platelet transfusion.
You're called out to an assisted living facility for a 72-year-old woman
complaining of a severe headache and experiencing increased
confusion. Staff reports she fell out of her wheelchair earlier in the
week but didn't appear to be hurt; however, she's become increasingly
disoriented over the last day or so. Vital signs show: BP 110/90; heart
rate 118 and irregularly regular; ventilation rate 20 and slightly labored;
SpO, 93% on room air. She is taking warfarin for a clotting issue. Which
of the following should you suspect?
A. Cerebral contusion
B. Epidural hematoma
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Subdural hematoma ......ANSWER......D subdural
Upon examination, you find the patient responsive to your presence,
although she is clearly confused. Motor response shows reduced pain
response but normal flexion. What's her GCS score?
A. 15
B. 12
pg. 4
