[Silicone rubber-- an unsuitable and dangerous material for T-drains]

Four cases of bile peritonitis after removal of silastic T-tubes are described. The removal of the tubes took place 8 to 23 days after operation. This complication has been described only since the introduction of silastic tubing. The therapy consists in early relaparotomy and drainage. In dogs, the behavior of intraperitoneal silastic and rubber tubes was compared. Whereas rubber tubing was completely surrounded by a fibrous sheet not later than 2 weeks after implantation, the silastic tubing was floating freely in the abdominal cavity even after 6 weeks. Therefore, the use of silastic tubes is dangerous in short-time bile duct drainage. On the other hand, this material had advantages for long-term drainage and for endoluminal prostheses.