Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) |
Questions and Answers | 2026 Update |
Complete Review Pack
Which of the following best defines shock?
A. Inadequate energy production at the cellular level
B. Aerobic metabolism at the cellular level
C. Low blood pressure
D. Any condition that causes generalized cellular hyperperfusion -✓✓A.
Prehospital providers are treating an unconscious patient with irregular respirations
who was ejected from a motor vehicle. No obvious external injuries are noted
during the initial assessment. Vital signs are P 54 breaths per minute, SpO₂ 94%,
and BP 182/112 mm Hg. These findings are most consistent with which of the
following injuries?
A. Closed head injury
B. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage
C. Spinal cord injury
D. Cardiac tamponade -✓✓A.
What is the most common type of shock experienced by trauma patients?
A. Obstructive
B. Distributive
C. Hypovolemic
D. Cardiogenic -✓✓C.
A full-term pregnant patient is being spinally immobilized after a motor vehicle
collision. After placing her in the ambulance, vital signs reveal a blood pressure of
88/64 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate next step?
A. Remove the spine immobilization and allow the patient to assume a position of
comfort.
B. Administer a fluid bolus of 500 mL Ringer's lactate.
C. Immobilize the patient on the backboard and tilt the backboard to the left side.
D. Immobilize the patient on the backboard and tilt the backboard to the right side.
-✓✓c.
Which of the following organs is the most sensitive to hypoxia?
, A. GI tract
B. Liver
C. Brain
D. Kidney -✓✓C.
A 33-year-old male was involved in a house fire and the primary survey reveals
stridor, bradypnea, and soot around the nose/mouth. Multiple attempts at airway
management have been unsuccessful. Which destination is most appropriate for
this patient?
A. Level-one trauma center (40 min away)
B. Level-two trauma center (20 min away)
C. Burn facility (50 min away)
D. Community hospital (10 min away) -✓✓D.
When ventilating the average adult patient, how much air should be delivered into
the lungs during each ventilation?
A. 250 mL
B. 500 mL
C. 750 mL
D. 1000 mL -✓✓B.
Prehospital providers respond to a male patient lying supine on the ground with a
single gunshot wound to the left temple. The patient is apneic and pulseless. What
is the most appropriate action?
A. Initiate positive-pressure ventilation.
B. Declare the patient dead.
C. Begin chest compressions.
D. Immobilize the spine. -✓✓B.
After being tackled, a football player has lost sensation from the umbilicus down.
What area of the spine should prehospital providers suspect is injured?
A. C5
B. C7
C. T10
D. T12 -✓✓C.
What is the most common cause of an airway obstruction in the unconscious
trauma patient?
A. Blood
Questions and Answers | 2026 Update |
Complete Review Pack
Which of the following best defines shock?
A. Inadequate energy production at the cellular level
B. Aerobic metabolism at the cellular level
C. Low blood pressure
D. Any condition that causes generalized cellular hyperperfusion -✓✓A.
Prehospital providers are treating an unconscious patient with irregular respirations
who was ejected from a motor vehicle. No obvious external injuries are noted
during the initial assessment. Vital signs are P 54 breaths per minute, SpO₂ 94%,
and BP 182/112 mm Hg. These findings are most consistent with which of the
following injuries?
A. Closed head injury
B. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage
C. Spinal cord injury
D. Cardiac tamponade -✓✓A.
What is the most common type of shock experienced by trauma patients?
A. Obstructive
B. Distributive
C. Hypovolemic
D. Cardiogenic -✓✓C.
A full-term pregnant patient is being spinally immobilized after a motor vehicle
collision. After placing her in the ambulance, vital signs reveal a blood pressure of
88/64 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate next step?
A. Remove the spine immobilization and allow the patient to assume a position of
comfort.
B. Administer a fluid bolus of 500 mL Ringer's lactate.
C. Immobilize the patient on the backboard and tilt the backboard to the left side.
D. Immobilize the patient on the backboard and tilt the backboard to the right side.
-✓✓c.
Which of the following organs is the most sensitive to hypoxia?
, A. GI tract
B. Liver
C. Brain
D. Kidney -✓✓C.
A 33-year-old male was involved in a house fire and the primary survey reveals
stridor, bradypnea, and soot around the nose/mouth. Multiple attempts at airway
management have been unsuccessful. Which destination is most appropriate for
this patient?
A. Level-one trauma center (40 min away)
B. Level-two trauma center (20 min away)
C. Burn facility (50 min away)
D. Community hospital (10 min away) -✓✓D.
When ventilating the average adult patient, how much air should be delivered into
the lungs during each ventilation?
A. 250 mL
B. 500 mL
C. 750 mL
D. 1000 mL -✓✓B.
Prehospital providers respond to a male patient lying supine on the ground with a
single gunshot wound to the left temple. The patient is apneic and pulseless. What
is the most appropriate action?
A. Initiate positive-pressure ventilation.
B. Declare the patient dead.
C. Begin chest compressions.
D. Immobilize the spine. -✓✓B.
After being tackled, a football player has lost sensation from the umbilicus down.
What area of the spine should prehospital providers suspect is injured?
A. C5
B. C7
C. T10
D. T12 -✓✓C.
What is the most common cause of an airway obstruction in the unconscious
trauma patient?
A. Blood
