ATLS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2024/2025 GRADED A+
Assessed first in trauma patient (correct answer) Airway
(*) Degree of burn that is characterized by bone involvement (correct answer)Fourth
Complications of head trauma (correct answer) Intracerebral hematoma
Extradural hematoma
Brain abscess
Most common cause of laryngotracheal stenosis (correct answer)Trauma
Intervention that can help prevent development of acute renal failure (correct answer)Infusion of normal
saline
A 26-year-old male is resuscitated with blood transfusion after a motor vehicle collision that was
complicated by a fractured pelvis. A few hours later, the patient becomes febrile, hypotensive with a
normal CVP, and oliguric. Upon examination, the patient is found to be bleeding from the NG tube and IV
sites. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Hemorrhagic shock
B. Acute adrenal insufficiency
C. Fat embolism syndrome
D. Transfusion reaction (correct answer)D. Transfusion reaction
Skin antiseptic (correct answer)-Ethanol 70% is an effective skin antiseptic
-Acetic acid can be used to treat Gram- skin infections
-Salicylic acid is used to treat certain skin yeast infections
Class IV hemorrhage indicates what % blood loss (correct answer)55%
How does shivering affect body temperature (correct answer)Increases body temperature
Class III hemorrhage indicates what % of blood loss (correct answer)35%
Management of a stable patient with kidney contusion (correct answer)Observation
Associated with hypovolemic shock (correct answer)-Inadequate tissue perfusion with resultant tissue
hypoxia
-Blood shunting to vital organs
,-Decreased circulating blood volume and decreased venous return
-Low cardiac output
-Loss of less than 20% of the blood volume is usually without symptom except for mild tachycardia
-Patients become orthostatic with losses between 20 and 40%
-Shock is evidenced by tachycardia, hypotension, oliguria, flat neck veins
The most effective method of monitoring the success of resuscitation during CPR? (correct
answer)Reactivity of pupils to light
Used to ensure correct placement of endotracheal tube (correct answer)-Ultrasound
-Bilateral breath sounds
-Sustained end-tidal CO2
Total body surface area involved in a burn in an adult to the anterior chest and abdomen (correct
answer)18%
What is often caused by carotid massage? (correct answer)Bradycardia
Step in a patient diagnosed with tension pneumothorax (correct answer)1. Needle decompression/
thoracotomy
2. Chest tube
True statements regarding diaphragmatic injuries (correct answer)-Blunt diaphragmatic injuries are
usually associated with skeletal trauma
-Penetrating diaphragmatic injuries may be missed
-Repair of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries usually does not require prosthetic material
First priority in the treatment of an unconscious patient (correct answer)Checking the pulse
A patient involved in a road accident is brought to the emergency department in an unconscious state.
On arrival, her vitals show a temperature of 96.4 degrees Fahrenheit, a respiration rate of 24 breaths per
minute, a heart rate of 140 beats per minute, and a blood pressure of 80/40 mm Hg. She is cold,
shivering, and perspiring profusely. She has bilateral reactive pupils but she does not respond to pain. On
physical examination, she has no obvious sign of external bleeding. Which of the following cannot be the
cause of hypotension in this patient?
A. Pelvic fracture
B. Fracture of femur
C. Intracranial hemorrhage
D. Hemothorax (correct answer)C. Intracranial hemorrhage
,A patient suffered a slash to his right neck. The wound is over the mid-portion of the
sternocleidomastoid. There is a large hematoma and brisk bleeding when uncovered. He is stable. What
is the next step in management?
A. Get an angiogram
B. Close the wound in the ER
C. Take him to the operating room
D. CT scan to evaluate neck structure (correct answer)C. Take him to the OR
After abdominal injury, which of the following urinalysis findings would be an indication for further
testing?
A. 0-5 casts/HPF
B. 5-10 WBC/HPF
C. 10-20 RBC/HPF
D. Gross hematuria (correct answer)D. Gross hematuria
A laceration of the neck superficial to the deep cervical fascia along the sternocleidomastoid muscle at
its midpoint would cause bleeding from which structure? (correct answer)External jugular vein
Clinical features associated with tension pneumothorax (correct answer)Unilateral decrease in breath
sounds
Hyperresonance
Respiratory distress
Tachycardia
Tracheal shift
Desatruation
Decreased breath sounds
Decreased compliance
Asymmetric chest movement
NOT hypertension, audible bronchial sounds
Not recommended as a mode of ventilation for a patient with a diaphragmatic hernia
A. Bag and mask
B. LMA
, C. Endotracheal intubation
D. Jet ventilation (correct answer)A. Bag and mask
What is the next step in the assessment of a traumatic patient after airway is established? (correct
answer)Breathing
Blood group that is considered a universal donor (correct answer)O
A provider is examining a patient who sustained a severe traumatic head injury. He documents no Doll's
eyes. What does this signify? (correct answer)Brainstem injury
Which of the following is the least preferred method of administering IV fluids?
A. Cubital veins
B. Cephalic veins
C. Subclavian veins
D. Saphenous vein (correct answer)Subclavian veins
Dermatome level for nipple sensation
Dermatome level for umbilicus (correct answer)T4
T10
At which temperature would a hypothermic patient stop shivering? (correct answer)88 degrees F
What is the energy recommendation for the first defibrillation in an adult (*) (correct answer)300 J
Pharmacologic effects of Morphine (correct answer)Behavioral changes
Analgesia
Respiratory depression
NOT diarrhea
A patient with which condition should be triaged to receive medical attention first?
A. Choking
B. Dizziness
C. Leg cramp
D. Vomiting (correct answer)A. Choking
ANSWERS 2024/2025 GRADED A+
Assessed first in trauma patient (correct answer) Airway
(*) Degree of burn that is characterized by bone involvement (correct answer)Fourth
Complications of head trauma (correct answer) Intracerebral hematoma
Extradural hematoma
Brain abscess
Most common cause of laryngotracheal stenosis (correct answer)Trauma
Intervention that can help prevent development of acute renal failure (correct answer)Infusion of normal
saline
A 26-year-old male is resuscitated with blood transfusion after a motor vehicle collision that was
complicated by a fractured pelvis. A few hours later, the patient becomes febrile, hypotensive with a
normal CVP, and oliguric. Upon examination, the patient is found to be bleeding from the NG tube and IV
sites. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Hemorrhagic shock
B. Acute adrenal insufficiency
C. Fat embolism syndrome
D. Transfusion reaction (correct answer)D. Transfusion reaction
Skin antiseptic (correct answer)-Ethanol 70% is an effective skin antiseptic
-Acetic acid can be used to treat Gram- skin infections
-Salicylic acid is used to treat certain skin yeast infections
Class IV hemorrhage indicates what % blood loss (correct answer)55%
How does shivering affect body temperature (correct answer)Increases body temperature
Class III hemorrhage indicates what % of blood loss (correct answer)35%
Management of a stable patient with kidney contusion (correct answer)Observation
Associated with hypovolemic shock (correct answer)-Inadequate tissue perfusion with resultant tissue
hypoxia
-Blood shunting to vital organs
,-Decreased circulating blood volume and decreased venous return
-Low cardiac output
-Loss of less than 20% of the blood volume is usually without symptom except for mild tachycardia
-Patients become orthostatic with losses between 20 and 40%
-Shock is evidenced by tachycardia, hypotension, oliguria, flat neck veins
The most effective method of monitoring the success of resuscitation during CPR? (correct
answer)Reactivity of pupils to light
Used to ensure correct placement of endotracheal tube (correct answer)-Ultrasound
-Bilateral breath sounds
-Sustained end-tidal CO2
Total body surface area involved in a burn in an adult to the anterior chest and abdomen (correct
answer)18%
What is often caused by carotid massage? (correct answer)Bradycardia
Step in a patient diagnosed with tension pneumothorax (correct answer)1. Needle decompression/
thoracotomy
2. Chest tube
True statements regarding diaphragmatic injuries (correct answer)-Blunt diaphragmatic injuries are
usually associated with skeletal trauma
-Penetrating diaphragmatic injuries may be missed
-Repair of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries usually does not require prosthetic material
First priority in the treatment of an unconscious patient (correct answer)Checking the pulse
A patient involved in a road accident is brought to the emergency department in an unconscious state.
On arrival, her vitals show a temperature of 96.4 degrees Fahrenheit, a respiration rate of 24 breaths per
minute, a heart rate of 140 beats per minute, and a blood pressure of 80/40 mm Hg. She is cold,
shivering, and perspiring profusely. She has bilateral reactive pupils but she does not respond to pain. On
physical examination, she has no obvious sign of external bleeding. Which of the following cannot be the
cause of hypotension in this patient?
A. Pelvic fracture
B. Fracture of femur
C. Intracranial hemorrhage
D. Hemothorax (correct answer)C. Intracranial hemorrhage
,A patient suffered a slash to his right neck. The wound is over the mid-portion of the
sternocleidomastoid. There is a large hematoma and brisk bleeding when uncovered. He is stable. What
is the next step in management?
A. Get an angiogram
B. Close the wound in the ER
C. Take him to the operating room
D. CT scan to evaluate neck structure (correct answer)C. Take him to the OR
After abdominal injury, which of the following urinalysis findings would be an indication for further
testing?
A. 0-5 casts/HPF
B. 5-10 WBC/HPF
C. 10-20 RBC/HPF
D. Gross hematuria (correct answer)D. Gross hematuria
A laceration of the neck superficial to the deep cervical fascia along the sternocleidomastoid muscle at
its midpoint would cause bleeding from which structure? (correct answer)External jugular vein
Clinical features associated with tension pneumothorax (correct answer)Unilateral decrease in breath
sounds
Hyperresonance
Respiratory distress
Tachycardia
Tracheal shift
Desatruation
Decreased breath sounds
Decreased compliance
Asymmetric chest movement
NOT hypertension, audible bronchial sounds
Not recommended as a mode of ventilation for a patient with a diaphragmatic hernia
A. Bag and mask
B. LMA
, C. Endotracheal intubation
D. Jet ventilation (correct answer)A. Bag and mask
What is the next step in the assessment of a traumatic patient after airway is established? (correct
answer)Breathing
Blood group that is considered a universal donor (correct answer)O
A provider is examining a patient who sustained a severe traumatic head injury. He documents no Doll's
eyes. What does this signify? (correct answer)Brainstem injury
Which of the following is the least preferred method of administering IV fluids?
A. Cubital veins
B. Cephalic veins
C. Subclavian veins
D. Saphenous vein (correct answer)Subclavian veins
Dermatome level for nipple sensation
Dermatome level for umbilicus (correct answer)T4
T10
At which temperature would a hypothermic patient stop shivering? (correct answer)88 degrees F
What is the energy recommendation for the first defibrillation in an adult (*) (correct answer)300 J
Pharmacologic effects of Morphine (correct answer)Behavioral changes
Analgesia
Respiratory depression
NOT diarrhea
A patient with which condition should be triaged to receive medical attention first?
A. Choking
B. Dizziness
C. Leg cramp
D. Vomiting (correct answer)A. Choking
