[Clinical testing of drainage tubes following abdominal surgery interventions]

The properties of soft rubber, silicone latex, and silicone rubber were investigated by material testing and clinical observation with regard to suitability for use in drainage tubes. Silicone latex proved to be the softest of the three materials but was also characterised by very low elongation values, which caused problems in tube withdrawal. Soft rubber tubes should be used only for short periods in indwelling time for their inferior biocompatibility and trend to lumen incrustation. Silicone rubber, while somewhat harder than silicone latex, was characterised by excellent biocompatibility and safe drainage functionality.