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1. Thoracic trauma. Chest tube insertion.
A 22 year old man is hypotensive and tachycardic after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder.
His blood after initial IV fluid resuscitation, a closed tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left breath sounds
a) reexamine the chest
b) perform an aortogram
c) obtain a CT scan of the chest
d) obtain arterial blood gas analyses
e) perform tranesohageal echocardiography
answer: a.
info: chest tube insertion, p. 108.
2. Musculoskeletal trauma. Extremity trauma.
A construction worker falls two stories from a building and sustains bilateral calcaneal
fractures. In the emergency department, he is alert, vital signs are normal, and he is
complaining of severe pain in both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity pulses are
strong and there is no other deformity. The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be confirmed
by
a) angiography
b) compartment pressures
c) retrograde urethrogram
d) Doppler-ultrasound studies
e) complete spine x-ray series
answer: e.
3. Trauma in women.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, all of the following changes occur normally EXCEPT
a
a) decrease in PaCO2
b) decrease in leukocyte count
c) reduced gastric emptying rate
d) diminished residual hing volume
e) diminished elvic ligament tension
answer: b.
info: p. 261.
e) shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
answer: C
info: p. 136, 137.
Carbon dioxide is perhaps the most potent available modulator of cerebrovascular tone and
thus cerebral blood flow (CBF). Hypercarbia and hypoxia are both potent cerebral vasodilators
that result in increased cerebral blood flow and volume and, potentially, increased ICP; thus,
they must be avoided. Orotracheal intubation allows for airway protection in patients who are
severely obtunded and allows for better control of
oxygenation and ventilation.
11. Abdominal trauma.
A 25 year old man is brought to a hospital with a general surgeon after being involved in a
motor vehicle crash. He has a GCS of 13 and complains of abdominal pain. His blood
pressure was 80 mm Hg systolic by palpation on arrival at the hospital, but increases to
110/70 mm Hg with the administration of 2 liters of intravenous fluid. His heart rate remains
120 beats per minute. Computed tomography shows an aortic injury and splenic laceration
with free abdominal fluid. His blood pressure falls to 70 mm Hg after CT. The next step is
a) contrast angiography
b) transfer to higher level trauma center
c) exploratory laparotomy
d) transfuse packed red blood cells
e) transesophageal echocardiography
answer: c.
info: p. 12.
12. Which one of the following statements regarding abdominal trauma in the pregnant patient
is true?
a) the fetus is in jeopardy only with major abdominal trauma
b) leakage of amniotic fluid is an indication for hospital admission
Cc) indications for peritoneal lavage are different from those in the nonpregnant patient
d) penetration of an abdominal hollow viscus is more common in late than in early pregnancy
e) the secondary survey follows a different pattern from that of the nonpregnant patient
answer: b.
info: p. 265.
13. Thoracic trauma.
The first maneuver to improve oxygenation after chest injury is
a) intubate the patient
b) assess arterial blood gases
c) administer supplemental oxygen
d) ascertain the need for a chest tube
e) obtain a chest x-ray
answer: c.
14. Head trauma.
A 25 year old man, injured in a motor vehicular crash, is admitted to the emergency
department. His pupils react sluggishly and his eyes open to painful stimuli. He does not
follow commands, but he does moan periodically. His right arm is deformed and does not
respond to painful stimulus; however, his left hand reaches purposefully toward the painful
stimulus. Both legs are stiffly extended. His GCS Score is
a)2
b)4
c)6
d)9
e) 12
answer: d.
info: p. 138.
15. Trauma in Women.
A 20 year old woman, at 32 weeks gestation, is stabbed in the upper right chest. In the
emergency department, her blood pressure is 80/60 mm Hg. She is gasping for breath,
extremely anxious, and yelling for help. Breath sounds are diminished in the right chest. The
most appropriate first step is to
a) perform tracheal intubation
b) insert an oropharyngeal airway
c) perform needle decompression of the right chest
d) manually displace the gravid uterus to the left side of the abdomen
e) initiate 2, large-caliber peripheral IV lines and crystalloid infusion
answer: c.
info: p. 87.
16. Initial assessment and management.
Which one of the following findings in an adult should prompt immediate management during
the primary survey?
a) distended abdomen
b) glasgow coma scale score of 11
c) temperature of 36.5C (97.8F)
d) heart rate of 120 beats per minute
e) respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
e) respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute
answer: e.
info: p. 79.
17. Thoracic trauma.
The most important, immediate step in the management of an open pneumothorax is
a) endotracheal intubation
b) operation to close the wound
c) placing a chest tube through the chest wound
d) placement of an occlusive dressing over the wound
e) initiation of 2, large-caliber IVs with crystalloid solution
answer: d.
info: p. 87.
18. Tetanus immunization.
The following are contraindications for tetanus toxoid administration
a) history of neurological reaction or severe hypersensitivity to the product
b) local side effects
c) muscular spasms
d) pregnancy
e) all of the above
answer: a.
info: p. 297.
19. Thoracic trauma.
A‘56 year old man is thrown violently against the steering wheel of his truck during a motor
vehicle crash. On arrival in the emergency department he is diaphoretic and complaining of
chest pain. His blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg and his respiratory rate is 40 breaths per
minute.Which of the following best differentiates cardiac tamponade from tension
pneumothorax as the cause of his hypotension?
a. tachycardia
b. pulse volume
mottled, insensate, and motionless. Despite normal vital signs, pulses cannot be palpated
below the femoral vessel and the muscles of the lower extremity are firm and hard. During
the initial management of this patient, which of the following is most likely to improve the
chances for limb salvage?
a) applying skeletal traction
b) administering anticoagulant drugs
c) administering thrombolytic therapy
d) perform right lower extremity fasciotomy
e) immediately transferring the patient to a trauma center
answer: d.
info: p. 196-197.
26. Head trauma.
A patient arrives in the emergency department after being beaten about the head and face with
a wooden club. He is comatose and has a palpable depressed skull fracture. His face is
swollen and ecchymotic. He has gurgling respirations and vomitus on his face and clothing.
The most appropriate step after clothing. The most appropriate step after providing
supplemental oxygen and elevating his jaw is to
a) requires a CT scan
b) insert a gastric tube
c) suction the oropharynx
d) obtain a lateral cervical spine x-ray
e) ventilate the patient with a bag-mask
answer: C
27. Thoracic trauma. Transfer to Definitive Care.
A 22 year old man sustains a gunshot wound to the left chest and is transported to a small
community hospital at which surgical capabilities are not available. In the emergency
department, a chest tube is inserted and 700mL of blood is evacuated. The trauma center
accepts the patient in transfer. Just before the patient is placed in the ambulance for transfer,
his blood pressure decreases to 80/68 mmHg and his heart rate increases to 136 beats per
minute. The next step should be to
a) clamp the chest tube
b) cancel the patient's transfer
c) perform an emergency department thoracotomy
d) repeat the primary survey and proceed with transfer
e) delay the transfer until the referring doctor can contact a thoracic surgeon
answer: c.
info: p. 270 - 274.
28. Head trauma.
A 64 year old man, involved in a high-speed car crash, is resuscitated initially in a small
hospital with limited resources. He has a closed head injury with a GCS score of 13. He has
a widened mediastinum on chest x-ray with fractures of left ribs 2 through 4, but no
pneumothorax. After infusing 2 liters of crystalloid solution, his blood pressure is 100/74
mmHg, heart rate is 110 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute. He
has gross hematuria and a pelvic fracture. You decide to transfer this patient to a facility
capable of providing a higher level of care. The facility is 128 km (80 miles) away. Before
transfer, you should first
a) intubate the patient
b) perform diagnostic peritoneal lavage
c) apply the pneumatic antishock garment
d) call the receiving hospital and speak to the surgeon on call
e) discuss the advisability of transfer with the patient's family
answer: c.
info: p. 123.
29. Shock.
Hemorrhage of 20% of the patient's blood volume is associated usually with
a) oliguria
b) confusion
c) hypotension
d) tachycardia
e) blood transfusion requirement
answer: d.
info: p. 61.
30. Intraosseous fluid resuscitation.
Which one of the following statements concerning intraosseous infusion is true?
a) only crystalloid solutions may be safely infused through the needle
b) aspiration of bone marrow confirms appropriate positioning of the needle
c) intraosseous infusion is the preferred route for volume resuscitation in small children
d) intraosseous infusion may be utilized indefinitely
e) swelling in the soft tissues around the intraosseous site is not a reason to discontinue
infusion
answer: b.
10
the info: p.236.
31. Head injury.
A young woman sustains a severe head injury as the result of a motor vehicle crash. In the
emergency department, her GCS is 6. Her blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg and her heart rate
is 80 beats per minute. She is intubated and mechanically ventilated. Her pupils are 3mm in
size and equally reactive to light. There is no other apparent injury. The most important
principle to follow in the early management of her head injury is to
a) avoid hypotension
b) administer an osmotic diuretic
Cc) aggressively treat systemic hypertension
d) reduce metabolic requirements of the brain
e) distinguish between intracranial hematoma
e) distinguish between intracranial hematoma and cerebral edema
answer: a.
info: p. 142, 143, 145.
32. Thoracic trauma.
A 33 year old woman is involved in a head-on motor vehicle crash. It took 30 minutes to
extricate her from the car. Upon arrival in the emergency department, her heart rate is 120
beats per minute, BP is 90/70 mmHg, respiratory rate is 16 breaths per minute, and her GCS
score is 15. Examination reveals bilaterally equal breath sounds, anterior chest wall
ecchymosis, and distended neck veins. Her abdomen is flat, soft, and not tender. Her pelvis
is stable. Palpable distal pulses are found in all 4 extremities. Of the following, the most
likely diagnosis is
a) hemorrhagic shock
b) cardiac tamponade
c) massive hemothorax
d) tension pneumothorax
e) diaphragmatic rupture
answer: b.
info: p. 91-92.
33. Abdominal trauma.
A hemodynamically normal 10 year old girl is admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
(PICU) for observation after a Grade III (moderately severe) splenic injury has been
confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Which of the following mandates prompt
celiotomy (laparotomy)?
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