Subcutaneous splicing of intravenous and intragastric catheters.

A method is described for repairing silicone catheters that have been severed due to excess force by the animal or tension within the restraint system. The technique is particularly useful when the break in the catheter occurs under the skin. The entire repair process takes less than 20 minutes and can be performed under light anesthesia. This technique would be of benefit primarily in intravenous drug self-administration studies, but procedures employing chronic catheterization (e.g., intragastric, intraperitoneal) could also use this method.