ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
To establish a diagnosis of shock,
A. Systolic blood pressure must be below 90mmHg
B. The presence of a closed head injury should be excluded
C. Acidosis should be present by arterial blood gas analysis
D. The patient must fail to respond to intravenous fluid infusion
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
A 32-year-old is brought to the hospital unconscious with severe facial injuries and
noisy respirations after an automobile collision. In the ED, he has no apparent
injury to the anterior aspect of his neck. He suddenly becomes apneic, and
attempted ventilation with a face mask is unsuccessful. Examination of his mouth
reveals a large hematoma of the pharynx with loss of normal anatomic landmarks.
Initial management of his airways should be consist of:
A. Inserting an oropharyngeal airway
B. Inserting a nasopharyngeal airway
C. Performing a surgical cricothyroidotomy
D. Performing fiberoptic-guided nasotracheal intubation
E. Performin orotracheal intubation after obtaining a lateral c-spine x-ray
A. Inserting an oropharyngeal airway
A 25-year-old woman is brought to the ED after a motor vehicle crash. She was
initially lucid at the scene and then developed a dilated pupil and contralateral
extremity weakness. In the ED, she is unconscious and has a GCS score of 6. The
initial management step for this patient should be to:
A. Obtain a CT-scan of the head
B. Administer decadron 20mg IV
C. Perform endotracheal intubation
, ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
D. Administer mannitol 1g/kg IV
E. Perform an emergency bone flap craniotomy on the side of the dilated pupil.
C. Perform endotracheal intubation
A contraindication to nasogastric intubation is the presence of a:
A. Gastric perforation
B. Diaphragmatic rupture
C. Open depressed skull fracture
D. Fracture of the cervical spine
E. Fracture of the cribiform plate
E. Fracture of the cribiform plate
An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck from behind. In
the ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart rate is 80 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that
her legs feel "funny and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show
a fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral bodies.
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
Immediate chest tube insertion is indicated for which of the following conditions?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumomediastinum
, ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Diaphragmatic rupture
E. Subcutaneous emphysema
C. Massive hemothorax
Cardiac tamponade after trauma:
A. Is seldom life-threating
B. Can be excluded by an upright, AP chest x-ray
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
D. Causes a fall in systolic pressure of > 15mmHg with expiration
E. Most commonly occurs after blunt injury to the anterior chest wall
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle into a
telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound shock. He has no open wounds
or obvious fractures. The cause of his shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
A. A subdural hematoma
B. An epidural hematoma
C. A transected lumbar spinal cord
D. A basilar skull fracture
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh-isoimmunization in
the pregnant trauma patient?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. Minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage produce it
, ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
D. This is not a problem in the traumatized Rh-positive pregnant patient
E. Initiation of Rh-immunoglobulin therapy does not require proof of
fetomaternal hemorrhage
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
All of the following signs on the chest x-ray of a blunt injury victim may suggest
aortic rupture EXCEPT:
A. Mediastinal emphysema
B. Presence of a "pleural cap"
C. Obliteration of the aortic knob
D. Deviation of the trachea to the right
E. Depression of the left mainstem bronchus
A. Mediastinal emphysema
Early central venous pressure monitoring during fluid resusciation in the ED has
the greatest utility in a:
A. Patient with a splenic laceration
B. Patient with a inhalation injury
C. 6 year-old child with a pelvic fracture
D. Patient with a severe cardiac contusion
E. 24-year-old man with a massive hemothorax
D. Patient with a severe cardiac contusion
A cross-table 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
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
To establish a diagnosis of shock,
A. Systolic blood pressure must be below 90mmHg
B. The presence of a closed head injury should be excluded
C. Acidosis should be present by arterial blood gas analysis
D. The patient must fail to respond to intravenous fluid infusion
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
E. Clinical evidence of inadequate organ perfusion must be present.
A 32-year-old is brought to the hospital unconscious with severe facial injuries and
noisy respirations after an automobile collision. In the ED, he has no apparent
injury to the anterior aspect of his neck. He suddenly becomes apneic, and
attempted ventilation with a face mask is unsuccessful. Examination of his mouth
reveals a large hematoma of the pharynx with loss of normal anatomic landmarks.
Initial management of his airways should be consist of:
A. Inserting an oropharyngeal airway
B. Inserting a nasopharyngeal airway
C. Performing a surgical cricothyroidotomy
D. Performing fiberoptic-guided nasotracheal intubation
E. Performin orotracheal intubation after obtaining a lateral c-spine x-ray
A. Inserting an oropharyngeal airway
A 25-year-old woman is brought to the ED after a motor vehicle crash. She was
initially lucid at the scene and then developed a dilated pupil and contralateral
extremity weakness. In the ED, she is unconscious and has a GCS score of 6. The
initial management step for this patient should be to:
A. Obtain a CT-scan of the head
B. Administer decadron 20mg IV
C. Perform endotracheal intubation
, ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
D. Administer mannitol 1g/kg IV
E. Perform an emergency bone flap craniotomy on the side of the dilated pupil.
C. Perform endotracheal intubation
A contraindication to nasogastric intubation is the presence of a:
A. Gastric perforation
B. Diaphragmatic rupture
C. Open depressed skull fracture
D. Fracture of the cervical spine
E. Fracture of the cribiform plate
E. Fracture of the cribiform plate
An 8-year-old girl is an unrestrained passenger in a vehicle struck from behind. In
the ED, her blood pressure is 80/60mmHg, heart rate is 80 beats per minute, and
respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute. Her GCS score is 14. She complains that
her legs feel "funny and wont move right". However, her spine x-rays do not show
a fracture or dislocation. A spinal cord injury in this child:
A. Is most likely a central cord syndrome
B. Must be diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
C. Can be excluded by obtaining a CT-scan of the entire spine
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
E. Is unlikely because of the incomplete calcification of the vertebral bodies.
D. May exist in the abscence of objective findings on x-ray studies
Immediate chest tube insertion is indicated for which of the following conditions?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumomediastinum
, ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
C. Massive hemothorax
D. Diaphragmatic rupture
E. Subcutaneous emphysema
C. Massive hemothorax
Cardiac tamponade after trauma:
A. Is seldom life-threating
B. Can be excluded by an upright, AP chest x-ray
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
D. Causes a fall in systolic pressure of > 15mmHg with expiration
E. Most commonly occurs after blunt injury to the anterior chest wall
C. Can be confused with a tension pneumthorax
A 22-year-old man is brought to the hospital after crashing his motorcycle into a
telephone pole. He is unconscious and in profound shock. He has no open wounds
or obvious fractures. The cause of his shock is MOST LIKELY caused by:
A. A subdural hematoma
B. An epidural hematoma
C. A transected lumbar spinal cord
D. A basilar skull fracture
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen
E. Hemorrhage into the chest or abdomen
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning Rh-isoimmunization in
the pregnant trauma patient?
A. It occurs in blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma
B. Minor degrees of fetomaternal hemorrhage produce it
, ATLS EXAM 2024 | COMPREHENSIVE PRETEST AND
POST TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST
UPDATE | ALREADY GRADED A+
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
D. This is not a problem in the traumatized Rh-positive pregnant patient
E. Initiation of Rh-immunoglobulin therapy does not require proof of
fetomaternal hemorrhage
C. A negative Kleihauer-Betke test excludes Rh-Isoimmunzation
All of the following signs on the chest x-ray of a blunt injury victim may suggest
aortic rupture EXCEPT:
A. Mediastinal emphysema
B. Presence of a "pleural cap"
C. Obliteration of the aortic knob
D. Deviation of the trachea to the right
E. Depression of the left mainstem bronchus
A. Mediastinal emphysema
Early central venous pressure monitoring during fluid resusciation in the ED has
the greatest utility in a:
A. Patient with a splenic laceration
B. Patient with a inhalation injury
C. 6 year-old child with a pelvic fracture
D. Patient with a severe cardiac contusion
E. 24-year-old man with a massive hemothorax
D. Patient with a severe cardiac contusion
A cross-table 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
