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Adult Advanced Flashcards

6 cards from real ITLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Adult Advanced flashcards as text

  1. A patient with blunt thoracic trauma develops sudden cardiovascular collapse during positive pressure ventilation. What is the most likely cause?

    Answer: Simple pneumothorax converting to tension pneumothorax

    Positive pressure ventilation can convert a simple pneumothorax into a tension pneumothorax by forcing air through the lung injury into the pleural space, causing mediastinal shift and cardiovascular collapse.

  2. In ITLS Advanced, what is the Glasgow Coma Scale score for a patient who opens eyes to pain, makes incomprehensible sounds, and exhibits flexion withdrawal?

    Answer: GCS 8

    Eye opening to pain = 2, incomprehensible sounds = 2, flexion withdrawal = 4. Total GCS = 2 + 2 + 4 = 8.

  3. Which IV fluid strategy does ITLS Advanced recommend for hypotensive trauma patients with suspected internal hemorrhage?

    Answer: Permissive hypotension with limited fluid boluses

    ITLS Advanced recommends permissive hypotension (targeting systolic BP of 80-90 mmHg) with limited crystalloid boluses to avoid diluting clotting factors and disrupting forming clots.

  4. A motorcyclist has an open femur fracture with arterial bleeding. After applying a tourniquet, what is the next priority in ITLS Advanced assessment?

    Answer: Continue the primary survey

    After controlling life-threatening hemorrhage, the ITLS approach mandates continuing the primary survey (ABCDE) before addressing secondary concerns like splinting, IV access, or wound care.

  5. What finding during the ITLS detailed secondary survey would indicate a ruptured diaphragm?

    Answer: Bowel sounds heard in the left chest

    Bowel sounds in the chest indicate herniation of abdominal contents through a diaphragmatic rupture, most commonly on the left side where the liver does not provide protection.

  6. In advanced trauma life support, why is succinylcholine used cautiously in patients with crush injuries older than 24-48 hours?

    Answer: It can trigger fatal hyperkalemia from damaged muscle tissue

    In crush injuries older than 24-48 hours, damaged muscle develops extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors that, when activated by succinylcholine, release massive amounts of potassium, potentially causing fatal cardiac arrhythmias.