Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Practice Exam

In trauma assessment, it is crucial to perform a pregnancy test on all females of child-bearing age to ensure safe medical management and avoid potential complications that could arise from undiagnosed pregnancy. Trauma can complicate existing conditions, and many diagnostic procedures and treatments, including imaging and medications, may be contraindicated or require special consideration if a patient is pregnant. Performing a pregnancy test helps inform the clinical team of the potential risks and necessary precautions, such as modifying imaging techniques (for example, using ultrasound instead of CT if a pregnancy is confirmed) and ensuring that the care provided does not adversely affect the mother or a potential fetus. This approach aligns with a conservative and safe trauma assessment protocol. Other choices, although useful in various contexts, do not specifically serve the immediate need to rule out pregnancy in trauma scenarios. A CT scan, ultrasound, and pelvic exam may be part of broader diagnostic evaluations but do not directly address the critical need to ascertain a patient's pregnancy status prior to performing certain interventions in trauma care.