title: Minitracheostomy: the benefits for patient care.
abstract: Sputum retention is a potential complication following thoracic surgery. This article describes minitracheostomy, a technique that is commonly used in thoracic units to clear secretions, examines its advantages and disadvantages and recommends its more widespread use in district general hospitals.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D013396:Suction / Q000451:nursing; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000451:nursing*; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing