ADVANCE TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT EXAM
Questions and Correct Answers Rated A+ 2025
Patients with GSC of less than _____ usually require intubation - ANSWER>>8
The "A" in ABCD stands for ______. - ANSWER>>Airway maintenance with
Cervical SPINE protection
You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an altered
level of consciousness or blunt injury above the clavice has what type of injury -
ANSWER>>Cervical Spine Injury
Flail chest is invariably accompanied by _______ which can interfere with blood
oxygenation - ANSWER>>pulmonary contusion - do NOT over fluid resuscitate
these patients.
Hypotension is caused by ______ until proven otherwise. -
ANSWER>>hypovolemia
When you dont have a BP what are three things to look for when evaluating
perfusion? - ANSWER>>1. level of consciousness (brain perfusion
2. Skin color (ashen face/grey extremities)
3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy)
Elderly patients have a limited ability to ___________ to compensate for blood
loss - ANSWER>>increase heart rate
Resuscitation fluids should be warmed to 39 Celsius - ANSWER>>Only for
Cyrstalloids, NOT for blood
Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume status. List
5 signs of urethral injury that might precent you from inserting one -
ANSWER>>Blood at urethral meatus, perineal ecchymosis, blood in scrotum,
high-riding/non-palpable prostate, pelvic fracture
,Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on? - ANSWER>>The arm with the BP
cuff
2 anatomical things that can interfere - ANSWER>>Obesity and intraluminal
bowel gas
When should radiographs be obtained? - ANSWER>>During the Secondary
survey!
How do get an ample patient history? - ANSWER>>Allergies
Medications
PMH/Pregnancy
Last meal
Events/Environment
Why might you want a Bair Hugger for a patient who smells of Alcohol? -
ANSWER>>Vasodilation can lead to hypothermia
What things are you looking for when you do a DRE in trauma -
ANSWER>>Blood, high riding prostate, sphincter tone,
What should be done for every female patient - ANSWER>>Pregnancy test
Adult patients should maintain UOP of at least _____mL/kg/hr. Kids should
have at least ______ mL/kg/hr - ANSWER>>Adults 0.5 mL/kg.hr
Kids 1.0 mL/kg/hr
Preventing hypercarbia (hypercapnia) is critical in patients who have sustained a
_______ injury - ANSWER>>head
What two places would you LOOK at a patient if you suspect hypoxemia? -
ANSWER>>Lips and fingernail beds
Patients may be abusive and belligerent because of ______-, so don't just
assume its due to drugs, alcohol, or the fact they they are just inherently a jerk -
ANSWER>>hypoxia
, Can a patient breath on their own after complete cervical cord transection -
ANSWER>>Yes if the phrenic nerves (C3-C5 are spared. This will result in
'abdominal' breathing. The intercostal muscles will be paralyzed though
Can you use an OPA (Guedel) in a conscious patient - ANSWER>>No, it could
make them vomit. An NPA (trumpet) would be okay.
Bougies are typically inserted blindly, how do you know you are in the trachea
and not the esophagus? - ANSWER>>You can feel the clicks as the distal tip rubs
against the cartilaginous tracheal rings, or it will deviate right or left when
entering either bronchus (at 50 cm)
What do yo NOT want to hear if you auscultate a patient after placement of an
ET tube? - ANSWER>>Borborygmi - rumbling or gurgling noices suggest
esophageal insertion.
What is the RSI dose for etomidate - ANSWER>>0.3 mg/kg (usually 20 mg)
What is the RSI dose for succinylcholine - ANSWER>>1-2 mg/kg (usually 100 mg)
How does etomidate affect blood pressure - ANSWER>>it doesnt -it shouldnt
have any effect on BP. Ketamine will increase BP, and propofol and thiopental
will both drop BP.
A RSI dose of succinylcholine usually lasts about ___ minutes - ANSWER>>5
What hypnotic/sedative/induction agent do you NOT want to use for a severely
burned patient? - ANSWER>>Sux - patients with severe burns, crush injuries,
hyperkalemia, or chronic paralytic/neuromuscular disease should NOT get Sux
because of hyperkalemia risk
O2 should flow at 15L for needle cricothyroidotomy, and have a Y connector for
insufflation if possible. What size needle do you use for adults? Kids? -
ANSWER>>Adults: 12-14 gauge
kids: 16-18 gauge
Questions and Correct Answers Rated A+ 2025
Patients with GSC of less than _____ usually require intubation - ANSWER>>8
The "A" in ABCD stands for ______. - ANSWER>>Airway maintenance with
Cervical SPINE protection
You should assume that any patient in a multisystem trauma with an altered
level of consciousness or blunt injury above the clavice has what type of injury -
ANSWER>>Cervical Spine Injury
Flail chest is invariably accompanied by _______ which can interfere with blood
oxygenation - ANSWER>>pulmonary contusion - do NOT over fluid resuscitate
these patients.
Hypotension is caused by ______ until proven otherwise. -
ANSWER>>hypovolemia
When you dont have a BP what are three things to look for when evaluating
perfusion? - ANSWER>>1. level of consciousness (brain perfusion
2. Skin color (ashen face/grey extremities)
3. Pulse (bilateral femoral - thready/tachy)
Elderly patients have a limited ability to ___________ to compensate for blood
loss - ANSWER>>increase heart rate
Resuscitation fluids should be warmed to 39 Celsius - ANSWER>>Only for
Cyrstalloids, NOT for blood
Urinary catheters are good for assessing renal perfusion and volume status. List
5 signs of urethral injury that might precent you from inserting one -
ANSWER>>Blood at urethral meatus, perineal ecchymosis, blood in scrotum,
high-riding/non-palpable prostate, pelvic fracture
,Which arm should you NOT put a pulse-ox on? - ANSWER>>The arm with the BP
cuff
2 anatomical things that can interfere - ANSWER>>Obesity and intraluminal
bowel gas
When should radiographs be obtained? - ANSWER>>During the Secondary
survey!
How do get an ample patient history? - ANSWER>>Allergies
Medications
PMH/Pregnancy
Last meal
Events/Environment
Why might you want a Bair Hugger for a patient who smells of Alcohol? -
ANSWER>>Vasodilation can lead to hypothermia
What things are you looking for when you do a DRE in trauma -
ANSWER>>Blood, high riding prostate, sphincter tone,
What should be done for every female patient - ANSWER>>Pregnancy test
Adult patients should maintain UOP of at least _____mL/kg/hr. Kids should
have at least ______ mL/kg/hr - ANSWER>>Adults 0.5 mL/kg.hr
Kids 1.0 mL/kg/hr
Preventing hypercarbia (hypercapnia) is critical in patients who have sustained a
_______ injury - ANSWER>>head
What two places would you LOOK at a patient if you suspect hypoxemia? -
ANSWER>>Lips and fingernail beds
Patients may be abusive and belligerent because of ______-, so don't just
assume its due to drugs, alcohol, or the fact they they are just inherently a jerk -
ANSWER>>hypoxia
, Can a patient breath on their own after complete cervical cord transection -
ANSWER>>Yes if the phrenic nerves (C3-C5 are spared. This will result in
'abdominal' breathing. The intercostal muscles will be paralyzed though
Can you use an OPA (Guedel) in a conscious patient - ANSWER>>No, it could
make them vomit. An NPA (trumpet) would be okay.
Bougies are typically inserted blindly, how do you know you are in the trachea
and not the esophagus? - ANSWER>>You can feel the clicks as the distal tip rubs
against the cartilaginous tracheal rings, or it will deviate right or left when
entering either bronchus (at 50 cm)
What do yo NOT want to hear if you auscultate a patient after placement of an
ET tube? - ANSWER>>Borborygmi - rumbling or gurgling noices suggest
esophageal insertion.
What is the RSI dose for etomidate - ANSWER>>0.3 mg/kg (usually 20 mg)
What is the RSI dose for succinylcholine - ANSWER>>1-2 mg/kg (usually 100 mg)
How does etomidate affect blood pressure - ANSWER>>it doesnt -it shouldnt
have any effect on BP. Ketamine will increase BP, and propofol and thiopental
will both drop BP.
A RSI dose of succinylcholine usually lasts about ___ minutes - ANSWER>>5
What hypnotic/sedative/induction agent do you NOT want to use for a severely
burned patient? - ANSWER>>Sux - patients with severe burns, crush injuries,
hyperkalemia, or chronic paralytic/neuromuscular disease should NOT get Sux
because of hyperkalemia risk
O2 should flow at 15L for needle cricothyroidotomy, and have a Y connector for
insufflation if possible. What size needle do you use for adults? Kids? -
ANSWER>>Adults: 12-14 gauge
kids: 16-18 gauge
