Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Practice Exam

The secondary survey begins after the primary survey has been completed. The primary survey focuses on identifying and managing life-threatening conditions, including assessing airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure. Once this initial life-saving assessment is finished, the secondary survey can be conducted. This involves a more thorough examination of the patient to uncover additional injuries that may not have been identified during the primary survey. The secondary survey allows for a systematic head-to-toe examination and often includes obtaining a history of the event, conducting imaging studies, and performing any necessary laboratory tests.

Understanding this sequence is crucial because it ensures that critical interventions are prioritized to stabilize the patient before more comprehensive assessments are made. Thus, the secondary survey serves as an important complement to the primary survey, facilitating diagnosis and treatment of non-life-threatening injuries that still require attention.