Retention and strength of silicone-rubber catheters. A report of five cases of retention and analysis of catheter strength.

Five patients had a silicone-rubber catheter that broke during attempted removal. Mechanical testing was performed to determine the tensile strength of silicone-rubber as well as of polyvinyl chloride catheters. Silicone-rubber catheters were found to have a low tensile strength. The pull-out force of ten indwelling silicone-rubber catheters was also measured. The pullout force measured from a patient who had a cast was close to 40 per cent of the strength of the silicone-rubber catheters.