Effect of catheter material on the incidence of urethral strictures

The aetiology of urethral strictures in patients catheterised for short periods at the time of surgery is the subject of some debate. The occurrence of epidemics of strictures associated with certain batches of latex catheters, and the demonstrable in vitro cytotoxicity of latex in general, have supported the suggestion that catheter material (and in particular latex) has an important role