TPATC – TRANSPORT PROFESSIONAL ADVANCED
TRAUMA EXAM QUESTIONS AND FULLY CORRECT
ANSWERS
167 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is the primary survey in trauma assessment? A: The primary
survey follows the ABCDE approach: Airway with cervical spine control,
Breathing, Circulation with hemorrhage control, Disability (neurological
assessment), and Exposure/Environmental control.
2. Q: What is the most common preventable cause of death in trauma
patients? A: Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the most common preventable cause
of death in trauma patients.
3. Q: What is the "golden hour" concept in trauma care? A: The golden
hour refers to the critical first 60 minutes after severe trauma when immediate
medical care is most likely to prevent death and long-term disability.
4. Q: What are the three phases of trauma care? A: Pre-hospital care,
emergency department resuscitation, and definitive care (including surgery if
needed).
5. Q: What is the trauma triad of death? A: Hypothermia, acidosis, and
coagulopathy - three conditions that can create a lethal cycle in severely injured
patients.
6. Q: What Glasgow Coma Scale score indicates severe brain injury? A: A
GCS score of 8 or below indicates severe brain injury and typically requires
intubation.
, 7. Q: What is shock in trauma patients? A: Shock is inadequate tissue
perfusion and oxygenation resulting in cellular dysfunction and potential organ
failure.
8. Q: What are the four types of shock commonly seen in trauma? A:
Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive (including neurogenic and septic), and
obstructive shock.
9. Q: What is the most common type of shock in trauma patients? A:
Hypovolemic shock due to blood loss is the most common type in trauma
patients.
10. Q: What is permissive hypotension in trauma care? A: A strategy of
maintaining systolic blood pressure at 80-90 mmHg in penetrating trauma to
minimize bleeding while ensuring adequate perfusion to vital organs.
11. Q: What is the revised trauma score (RTS)? A: A physiological scoring
system using Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate
to assess trauma severity.
12. Q: What does FAST exam stand for? A: Focused Assessment with
Sonography in Trauma - used to detect free fluid/blood in the abdomen and
pericardium.
13. Q: What is the injury severity score (ISS)? A: An anatomical scoring
system that provides an overall score for patients with multiple injuries, ranging
from 1-75.
14. Q: What mechanism of injury has the highest mortality rate? A: Falls
from heights greater than 20 feet and high-speed motor vehicle crashes typically
have the highest mortality rates.
15. Q: What is considered massive transfusion? A: Transfusion of 10 or more
units of packed red blood cells within 24 hours, or replacement of one blood
volume within 24 hours.
16. Q: What is damage control surgery? A: A surgical strategy focused on
controlling hemorrhage and contamination with rapid closure, delaying
definitive repair until the patient is physiologically stable.
17. Q: What is the normal response to hemorrhage? A: Vasoconstriction,
increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, and redistribution of blood flow
to vital organs.
TRAUMA EXAM QUESTIONS AND FULLY CORRECT
ANSWERS
167 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Q: What is the primary survey in trauma assessment? A: The primary
survey follows the ABCDE approach: Airway with cervical spine control,
Breathing, Circulation with hemorrhage control, Disability (neurological
assessment), and Exposure/Environmental control.
2. Q: What is the most common preventable cause of death in trauma
patients? A: Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the most common preventable cause
of death in trauma patients.
3. Q: What is the "golden hour" concept in trauma care? A: The golden
hour refers to the critical first 60 minutes after severe trauma when immediate
medical care is most likely to prevent death and long-term disability.
4. Q: What are the three phases of trauma care? A: Pre-hospital care,
emergency department resuscitation, and definitive care (including surgery if
needed).
5. Q: What is the trauma triad of death? A: Hypothermia, acidosis, and
coagulopathy - three conditions that can create a lethal cycle in severely injured
patients.
6. Q: What Glasgow Coma Scale score indicates severe brain injury? A: A
GCS score of 8 or below indicates severe brain injury and typically requires
intubation.
, 7. Q: What is shock in trauma patients? A: Shock is inadequate tissue
perfusion and oxygenation resulting in cellular dysfunction and potential organ
failure.
8. Q: What are the four types of shock commonly seen in trauma? A:
Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive (including neurogenic and septic), and
obstructive shock.
9. Q: What is the most common type of shock in trauma patients? A:
Hypovolemic shock due to blood loss is the most common type in trauma
patients.
10. Q: What is permissive hypotension in trauma care? A: A strategy of
maintaining systolic blood pressure at 80-90 mmHg in penetrating trauma to
minimize bleeding while ensuring adequate perfusion to vital organs.
11. Q: What is the revised trauma score (RTS)? A: A physiological scoring
system using Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate
to assess trauma severity.
12. Q: What does FAST exam stand for? A: Focused Assessment with
Sonography in Trauma - used to detect free fluid/blood in the abdomen and
pericardium.
13. Q: What is the injury severity score (ISS)? A: An anatomical scoring
system that provides an overall score for patients with multiple injuries, ranging
from 1-75.
14. Q: What mechanism of injury has the highest mortality rate? A: Falls
from heights greater than 20 feet and high-speed motor vehicle crashes typically
have the highest mortality rates.
15. Q: What is considered massive transfusion? A: Transfusion of 10 or more
units of packed red blood cells within 24 hours, or replacement of one blood
volume within 24 hours.
16. Q: What is damage control surgery? A: A surgical strategy focused on
controlling hemorrhage and contamination with rapid closure, delaying
definitive repair until the patient is physiologically stable.
17. Q: What is the normal response to hemorrhage? A: Vasoconstriction,
increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, and redistribution of blood flow
to vital organs.
