Decreased tensile strength of an epidural catheter during its removal by grasping with a hemostat

IMPLICATIONS:Our case suggests that gripping an epidural catheter with a hemostat during the removal might result in accidental breakage of the catheter. To demonstrate the effect of the use of a hemostat, tensile strengths of catheters were measured while they were being held with either a stainless steel or rubber-sleeved hemostat.