Routine preoperative ultrasound is unnecessary. We advocate the selective use of preoperative ultrasound in those with a history of central venous access associated with deep venous thrombosis. We advocate the use of intraoperative venography when there is difficulty advancing the guidewire or catheter or when preoperative ultrasound is negative despite a history of central venous access with deep venous thrombosis.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a substantial cause of childhood disease and death, but few studies have described its epidemiology in developing countries. Using a population-based surveillance system for pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis, we estimated S. aureus bacteremia incidence and the case-fatality ratio in children <5 years of age in 2 regions in the eastern part of The Gambia during 2008–2015. Among 33,060 children with suspected pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis, we performed blood culture for 27,851; of 1,130 patients with bacteremia, 198 (17.5%) were positive for S. aureus. S. aureus bacteremia incidence was 78 (95% CI 67–91) cases/100,000 person-years in children <5 years of age and 2,080 (95% CI 1,621–2,627) cases/100,000 person-years in neonates. Incidence did not change after introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The case-fatality ratio was 14.1% (95% CI 9.6%–19.8%). Interventions are needed to reduce the S. aureus bacteremia burden in The Gambia, particularly among neonates.

Case summaryA 33-year-old woman was transferred from an outside hospital with a penetrating injury to her right chest. The patient was shot with a crossbow with the entry site to the right breast/chest and a transmediastinal trajectory. She was intubated prior to arrival due to difficulty breathing. Her vital signs remained stable and within normal limits, with good breath sounds, and no evidence of pneumothorax on chest X-ray. The tip of the bolt was palpable at the patient’s left midaxillary line. Chest X-ray in trauma bay showed the transmediastinal trajectory, and the bolt appeared to have a field point (not a broadhead point) (figure 1). A CT of the chest was obtained to assist with surgical planning. Images showed the bolt penetrating the right chest, right ventricle and inferior aspect of the left ventricular muscle, through the stomach, and ending near the tip of the spleen with a fracture of the left seventh rib (figure 2).Figure 1Image A shows the bolt (crossbow arrow) entering the patient’s right breast and chest. Image B is the chest X-ray taken in the trauma bay showing the transmediastinal trajectory and partial visualization of the tip of the bolt with a field point. Image C demonstrates the tip of the bolt after removal.Figure 2CT of the chest with intravenous contrast showing a foreign body penetrating the right chest at the fourth intercostal space, right ventricle, left ventricle muscle, left hemidiaphragm, through the stomach, and ending near the tip of the spleen without injury to it. There was also a fracture of the lateral seventh rib and hemopericardium. The tip of the bolt is not clearly demonstrated due to artifact.What would you do?Median sternotomy followed by midline laparotomy.Clamshell thoracotomy in the Emergency Room (ER).Right anterolateral thoracotomy.Left posterolateral thoracotomy.