An unusual complication of minitracheostomy

A 72-year-old woman had a minitracheostomy inserted for sputum retention. This was undertaken by a relatively junior resident who opted to use an early model minitracheostomy kit Minitrach II. The following day the patients condition deteriorated and intubation was warranted, at which time it was apparent to senior staff that the minitracheostomy had been malpositioned. Ten days later, formal tracheostomy was performed under general anaesthesia. After incision, an abscess in the thyroid gland was found. Histology subsequently revealed a Hurthle cell tumour of the thyroid. Thyroid abscess is exceedingly rare. It typically occurs in abnormal thyroid tissue and with a focus on infection. The combination of Hurthle cell adenoma and a foreign body (the minitracheostomy) was evidently causative in this instance. This complication of minitracheostomy insertion has not to our knowledge, previously been reported.