Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

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Prepare for the Prehospital Trauma Life Support Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with explanations. Master emergency medicine concepts!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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After establishing two large bore IV lines in a trauma patient, the target blood pressure should be at least what?

60 mm Hg
70 mm Hg
80 mm Hg
90 mm Hg

The correct answer is: 90 mm Hg

In the context of trauma management, establishing two large-bore IV lines is crucial for the rapid administration of fluids, which is essential for maintaining perfusion and stabilizing blood pressure. The target blood pressure for a trauma patient should be at least 90 mm Hg systolic. This threshold is important because a systolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg can indicate inadequate perfusion to vital organs, increasing the risk of shock and organ failure. Maintaining a systolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher helps ensure that vital organs receive sufficient blood flow, which is critical in the setting of trauma where blood volume may be compromised due to hemorrhage. Aiming for 90 mm Hg takes into account the need for adequate tissue perfusion while balancing the risks of excessive fluid resuscitation, which can lead to complications such as pulmonary edema. This approach underscores the necessity for early recognition and treatment of hypovolemic shock in trauma patients.