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PHTLS Pre & Post Test Questions and Answers (2026-2027) (Verified Answers)
The displacement of tissue away from the path of a projectile, both temporarily and permanently, is known as: A. Conization B. Cavitation C. Crepitation D. Contusion
The single most important factor in determining the potential for injury due to energy exchange is: A. Mass of the bodies involved B. Velocity of the bodies involved C. Density of the tissues involve
With respect to the distance of a fall, which of the following is a guideline for determining a critical fall? A. 3 times the height of the patient B. 2 times the height of the patient C. 5 times the
The phase of an explosion, or blast, in which hollow organs are squeezed and may rupture is called the __________ phase. A. Tertiary phase B. Quaternary phase C. Secondary phase D. Primary phase
During the primary survey and management of a trauma patient, the E in ABCDE stands for _________? A. Edema B. Eyes & ears C. Expose/Environment D. Electrical therapy
The time in which surgical intervention can make a difference in patient outcome is the __________? A. Golden period B. Golden time C. Golden era D. Golden minutes
In the absence of extenuating circumstances, the maximum amount of time it should take to identify and manage immediate threats to life, prepare the patient for transport and begin transport is ______
Which of the following represents adequate spontaneous ventilation in an adult? A. Tidal volume 100 mL, ventilatory rate 40/minute B. Tidal volume 500 mL, ventilatory rate 8/minute C. Tidal volume 30
Which of the following is 100?curate in verifying endotracheal tube placement? A. Pulse oximetry B. End-tidal capnometry C. Syringe aspiration D. None of the above
When utilizing percutaneous transtracheal ventilation, the correct ration of lung inflation to lung inflation time, in seconds, is: A. 1:4 B. 1:5 C. 1:2 D. 2:2
Which of the following is a possible complication of using a manually triggered oxygen powered device for ventilation? A. Gastric distention B. Pneumothorax C. Inability to feel lung compliance D. Al
Which of the following procedures is considered an essential airway skill? A. Needle cricothyroidotomy B. Endotracheal intubation C. Insertion of an oropharyngeal airway D. Retrograde endotracheal in
Pericardial tamponade is most likely to occur in which of the following situations? A. Stab wound to the chest B. Fall from a height C. Frontal impact vehicle crash D. Gunshot wound to the chest
Which of the following is NOT a component of the Fick Principle? A. Adequate number of platelets in the blood B. Oxygenation of red blood cells C. Transportation of red blood cells to the tissues of
One of the earliest signs of hypovolemic shock is: A. Hypotension B. Bradycardia C. Anxiety D. Reduced urine output
Which of the following characterizes the washout phase of shock? A. Systemic acidosis B. Localized tissue acidosis C. Edema D. Reduced capillary blood flow
Which of the following is a limitation of prehospital fluid resuscitation of the patient in hemorrhagic shock? A. Inability of fluids to carry oxygen B. Pulmonary edema C. Increased hemorrhage D. All
Which of the following assessment techniques is least useful in the prehospital assessment of the patient with suspected intraabdominal trauma? A. Palpation B. Auscultation C. Inspection D. Scene ass
Pregnant trauma patients should be placed on the left side because: A. This prevents seizures due to eclampsia B. This prevents abruption of the placenta C. This prevents compression of the vena cava
Survival of the fetus in a trauma situation is most dependent upon which of the following factors? A. Gestational age of the fetus B. Prenatal care C. Immediate cesarean section D. Good resuscitation
A patient struck in the back of the head with a baseball bat may sustain a cerebral contusion to which area of the brain? A. Frontal and occipital B. Occipital C. Parietal D. Frontal
In the context of the caring for an adult patient with traumatic brain injury who is deteriorating and exhibiting signs of herniation, hyperventilation means ventilating with a BVM and 100% oxygen at
In the United State, which of the following mechanisms most frequently causes spinal cord injury in adults? A. Shallow water diving B. Vehicle crashes C. Falls D. Pedestrian struck by a vehicle
Of the following, which is the earliest indication of compartment syndrome? A. Paralysis of the affected muscles B. Loss of pulses C. Loss of feeling in the web space between the thumb and index fing
A traction splint may be used for which of the following injuries? A. Knee dislocation B. Pelvic fractures C. Femur fractures D. All of the above
The preferred method of dressing burns in the prehospital setting is: A. Dry sterile dressing B. Moist sterile dressing C. Wet dressings D. Petroleum gauze
In assessing the hypothermic patient in the prehospital setting, the most reliable indicator of the severity of hypothermia is: A. Rectal temperature B. Oral temperature C. Heart rate < 60>
A patient who withdraws from painful stimuli, opens eyes on verbal command, and cannot speak because of intubation has a Glasgow Coma Scale of which of the following: A. 8 B. 8T C. 7 D. 7T
The earliest site for intraosseous infusion is: A. Anterior tibia, just above the tibial tuberosity B. Anterior fibula C. Anterior tibia, just below the tibial tuberosity D. Posterior fibula
In the elderly trauma patient a high index of suspicion for shock should occur beginning when the systolic blood pressure is less than: A. 90 mmHg B. 150 mmHg C. 120 mmHg D. 100 mmHg
In an adult patient, blood loss into the tissue from a fractured femur may be as much as which of the following? A. 150 to 500 mL B. 500 to 1000 mL C. 1000 2000 mL D. 2500 to 5000 mL
Delayed death due to trauma is usually a result of: A. Biochemical and pathophysiological effects of inadequate initial resuscitation B. Acute circulatory failure C. Brain injury D. Acute hypoxia
A regional resource center with a full spectrum of trauma services from prevention to rehabilitation which serves as the leader in trauma care for a geographical region is a: A. Level IV trauma cente
Which of the following patients is not indicated for spinal immobilization? A. Intoxicated patient in a MVC B. Patient who fell 8 feet and lost consciousness C. Patient complaining of pain on palpati
Which of the following warrants classification of a patient as a critical trauma patient? A. An extremity fracture B. Preexisting major medical problem C. Bleeding from the nose D. Deployment of air
You arrive at the scene of a motor vehicle collision in which a vehicle struck a tree. Which is the best indicator of potential injury? A. Circumference of the vehicle B. Diameter of the tree C. Mass
The potential for death or serious injury is greatest in which of the following motor vehicle collisions? A) Down and under B) Ejection from vehicle C) Lateral compression D) Up and over
Bilateral femur fractures are most often associated with which type of motorcycle crash? A) Angular impact B) Bike-road impact C) Head-on impact D) Rear impact
Which is the preferred fluid for resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock in the prehospital setting? A) 5?xtrose in water B) 7.5% hypertonic saline C) Hetastarch D) Lactated Ringer's
Which is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction in the trauma patient? A) Blood B) Teeth C) Tongue D) Vomitus
Which is the preferred adjunct device for verifying placement of an endotracheal tube in a patient with a perfusing rhythm? A) End-tidal CO2 monitoring (capnography) B) Esophageal detector device C)
Which is the most important reason to maintain an open airway in the trauma patient? A) Prevents aspiration and pneumonia B) Prevents hypoxemia and hypercarbia C) Prevents snoring respirations D) Pre
Essential airway skills include manual clearing of the airway, manual maneuvers, suctioning and which of the following? A) Dual lumen airway B) Endotracheal intubation C) Laryngeal mask airway D) Oro
Which best describes shock? A) Decreased Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) B) Flushed, dry, hot skin combined with bradycardia C) Generalized inadequate tissue perfusion D) Low blood pressure combined with ta
Your patient has a deep laceration to his antecubital fossa with significant bleeding. What is the most appropriate initial action? A) Apply a tourniquet B) Apply direct pressure C) Initiate rapid tr
Hypotension of unknown etiology in a trauma patient should be assumed to result from which of the following? A) Blood loss B) Cardiac tamponade C) Spinal injury D) Tension pneumothorax
Which assessment is most beneficial in differentiating hemorrhagic shock from neurogenic shock in the prehospital setting? A) Abdomen B) Blood pressure C) Neurologic status D) Skin
The body initially compensates for blood loss through activation of which of the following? A) Parasympathetic nervous system B) Reticular activating system C) Spinal reflex arcs D) Sympathetic nervo
The target blood pressure for a trauma patient with suspected intraabdominal hemorrhage is which of the following? A) 60 - 70mm Hg B) 80 - 90 mm Hg C) 100 - 110 mm Hg D) 120 - 130 mm Hg
Which best explains the mechanism by which gas exchange is impaired in pulmonary contusion? A) Blood in the alveoli B) Collapse of the alveoli C) Compression of the lung tissue D) Partial occlusion o
Which of the following is a key finding that differentiates cardiac tamponade from tension pneumothorax? A) Distended jugular veins B) Equal breath sounds C) Hypotension D) Tachycardia
Which of the following is the preferred prehospital wound management for a patient with a 36% body surface area flame burn? A) Cool moist dressings B) Dry sterile dressings C) Elastic bandages D) Top
The most immediate life threatening condition resulting from injury to solid abdominal organs is which of the following? A) Acute respiratory failure B) Hemorrhage. C) Multiple organ failure. D) Peri
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