title: Minitracheostomy.
abstract: Minitracheostomy is a safe bedside procedure that is a useful adjunct to facilitate secretion clearance in patients with sputum retention. It can also be used in a prophylactic fashion after operations in high-risk patients. Insertion requires a trained physician and an assistant. Complications are rare and are usually avoidable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, General Thoracic Surgical Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. wright.Cameron@mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Cameron D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*