title: Silicone catheters may be superior to latex catheters in difficult urethral catheterization after urethral dilation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urethral dilation in the setting of difficult urethral catheterization is sometimes necessary to avoid suprapubic catheterization. Anecdotally, we have observed that less dilation is needed when advancing a silicone catheter over a Glidewire compared with a latex catheter of the same size. Our aim was to quantify the difference in the resistance to buckling between silicone and latex catheters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A BOSE Electroforce load testing device was used to test 12F and 16F silicone and latex catheters under tensile and compressive forces. This information was used to characterize the buckling (kinking) behavior of the catheters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silicone catheters showed more than 50% greater resistance to kinking when compared with regular latex or coude latex catheters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the setting of the difficult urethral catheterization, silicone catheters should be used after urethral dilation, advanced through a Glidewire, because they offer more resistance to buckling and might necessitate less dilation than conventional latex catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-2360, USA. cvillanueva.uro@gmail.com
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: S G M
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D057785:Catheters; D019245:Compressive Strength; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry*; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D012828:Silicones