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The effect of surgical drainage materials on rat colonic healing has been investigated in a prospective randomized and controlled study. Latex, silicone rubber (Silastic), polyvinylchloride (PVC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) tubes were implanted alongside a colonic anastomosis and compared with a 'no drain' group using mechanical and histological assessments. There was a significant increase in anastomotic leakage in the latex group in which there appears to be a local inhibition of healing. Silastic, PVC and Teflon were not found to interfere with healing. The continued use of latex drains in colonic surgery is therefore questioned.
Smith et al. (Mon,) studied this question.