ATLS test questions and answers
ABCDE Mnemonic CORRECT ANSWERS: A - Airway with cervical spine protection
B - Breathing
C - Circulation, stop
... [Show More] bleeding
D - Disability or neurological status
E - Exposure (undress) & Environment (temperature control)
Breathing & ventilation - injuries that impair ventilation CORRECT ANSWERS: Severe impairment:
* Tension pneumothorax
* Flail chest with pulmonary contusion
* Massive haemothorax
* Open pneumothorax
Lesser impairment
* Simple pneumothorax / haemothorax
* Rib #
* Pulmonary contusion
Circulation with heamorrhage control - assessing haemodynamic status CORRECT ANSWERS: LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Altered level of consciousness may indicate:
- ↓ circulating blood volume ∴ ↓ cerebral perfusion
SKIN COLOR
PULSE
* Full, regular pulse = normovolaemia
* Rapid, thready pulse ?hypovolaemia
Adjuncts to primary survey - ECG CORRECT ANSWERS: Indicators of blunt cardiac injury:
DYSRHYTHMIAS:
* Tachycardia
* AF
* PVC
* ST changes
PEA can indicate:
* Cardiac tamponade
* Tension pneumothorax
* Hypovolaemia
Consider hypoxia & hypo-perfusion if:
* Bradycardia
* Aberrant conduction
* Premature beats
Secondary survey CORRECT ANSWERS: Once primary survey (ABCDE) is complete, resuscitation underway & vital functions normalisation has been demonstrated
WHAT IS IT?
- Head to toe evaluation
- History
Secondary survey - AMPLE history CORRECT ANSWERS: A - Allergies
M - Medications
P - Past illnesses
- Pregnancy
L - Last meal
E - Events
- Environment related to injury
Blunt trauma CORRECT ANSWERS: - Seat belt
- Steering wheel deformation
- Damage to car + intrusion
- Ejection from vehicle
Secondary survey - Physical examination - HEAD CORRECT ANSWERS: SCALP & HEAD:
- Lacerations / contusions / fractures
EYES:
- Visual acuity
- Pupillary size
- Haemorrhage - conjunctiva / fundus
- Penetrating injury
- Contact lenses
- Lens dislocation
- Ocular entrapment - assess eye movements
MAXILLOFACIAL STRUCTURES:
i) Palpate bony structures
ii) Assess occlusion
iii) Intraoral examination
iv) Assess soft tissues
*** Midface fractures may also include cribiform plate fractures ***
Secondary survey - Physical examination - CERVICAL SPINE & NECK CORRECT ANSWERS: *** Presume pts with maxillofacial or head trauma have unstable C-spine injury ***
- C-spine tenderness
- SC emphysema
- Tracheal deviation
- Laryngeal #
- Carotid arteries - palapate & auscultate
? Seat belt mark
*** Do not explore wounds extending through platysma ***
Secondary survey - Physical examination - CHEST CORRECT ANSWERS: - Visual evaluation
- Palpation including clavicles / ribs / sternum
AUSCULTATION
* High anterior ?pneumothorax
* Posterior bases ?haemothorax
--- Cardiac tamponade:
Distant heart sounds & decreased pulse pressure
--- Distended neck veins:
Tension pneumothorax / cardiac tamponade [Show Less]