RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Topography of occult pneumothoraces: its importance for efficiency in diagnosis and avoiding sono-paralysis during POCUS JF Canadian Journal of Surgery JO CAN J SURG FD Canadian Medical Association SP E537 OP E539 DO 10.1503/cjs.017619 VO 64 IS 5 A1 Andrew W. Kirkpatrick A1 Thomas West Clements A1 Jessica L. McKee A1 Chad G. Ball YR 2021 UL http://canjsurg.ca/content/64/5/E537.abstract AB Traumatic pneumothoraces remain a life-threatening problem that may be resolved quickly with timely diagnosis. Unfortunately, they are still not optimally managed. The most critically injured patients with hemodynamic instability require immediate diagnoses of potentially correctible conditions in the primary survey. Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) performed by the responsible physician can be a tremendous adjunct to expediting diagnoses in the primary surgery and can typically be done in seconds rather than minutes. If more detailed sonographic examination is required, the secondary survey of the hemodynamically unstable patient is more appropriate. All involved in bedside care need to be conscious to efficiently integrate POCUS into resuscitation with the right intentions and goals to avoid sono-paralysis of the resuscitation sequence. Sono-paralysis has recently been described as critical situations wherein action is delayed through unnecessary imaging after a critical diagnosis has been made or unnecessary imaging details are sought despite an urgent diagnosis being made.