In modern hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery, the integrity of post-operative decompression devices directly influences patient recovery timelines and minimizes biliary complications. The Kehr's T Tube remains a gold-standard surgical device utilized extensively across Sweden's 21 healthcare regions (Regioner) for common bile duct (CBD) exploration, choledochotomy, and complex biliary reconstructive procedures. Designed specifically to maintain lumen patency, provide effective post-surgical bile diversion, and allow diagnostic cholangiography, high-spec T-tubes must meet stringent biostability, mechanical performance, and regulatory benchmarks.
As a premiere global medical device manufacturer with over six decades of production expertise, Sterimed Group produces medical-grade latex and platinum-cured silicone Kehr's T Tubes designed to satisfy the rigorous technical specifications required by Swedish University Hospitals, county medical centers, and specialized surgical units. Operating under full ISO 13485 quality systems and holding European Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR 2017/745) compliant technical files, our biliary catheters, trocars, and vascular access devices reflect superior polymer engineering, precise wall thickness uniformity, and optimal tissue compatibility.
Technical Note for Swedish Purchasing Officers: All Sterimed biliary catheters and surgical disposables supplied to Sweden comply fully with Swedish Public Procurement Law (LOU - Lag om offentlig upphandling), environmental sustainability guidelines (Miljöutmaningen 2030), and zero-phthalate (DEHP-free) chemical requirements under REACH regulations.
Explore our CE-certified range of surgical trocars, central venous access kits, endoscopic tubes, and thoracic drain catheters engineered for maximum clinical accuracy.
The primary clinical function of a Kehr's T Tube is to facilitate external bile drainage while preserving internal biliary flow pathways through the sphincter of Oddi during the post-operative healing phase of the common bile duct. Manufacturing these devices requires strict adherence to polymer purity, surface micro-smoothness, and durometer elasticity balance.
Sterimed offers Kehr's T Tubes in both 100% medical-grade silicone and silicone-coated red latex. Platinum-cured silicone provides non-reactive biostability, minimizing tissue inflammation during prolonged placement (beyond 14 days), whereas smooth latex variants deliver economic reliability for standard short-term post-operative drainage.
Every single T-tube produced for European distribution incorporates a continuous barium sulfate (BaSO4) radiopaque line extruded along the full length of both the long limb and cross branches. This allows clear X-ray and fluoroscopic visualization during postoperative T-tube cholangiography (TTC).
The interior lumen of Sterimed Kehr's T Tubes undergoes a proprietary mirror-polishing extrusion technique. This creates a hyper-smooth internal surface that prevents bile salt crystallization, sludge accumulation, and microbial biofilm formation, ensuring predictable volumetric bile clearance.
The following technical table provides engineering dimensions, branch lengths, and ordering codes for medical procurement managers across the Nordic markets.
| Size (Charrière / French) | Outer Diameter (mm) | Long Stem Length (mm) | Cross Branch Length (mm) | Material Composition | Sterilization Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fr 8 | 2.67 mm | 300 mm – 400 mm | 100 mm – 150 mm | 100% Medical Silicone / Latex | EO (Ethylene Oxide) Validated |
| Fr 10 | 3.33 mm | 300 mm – 400 mm | 100 mm – 150 mm | 100% Medical Silicone / Latex | EO (Ethylene Oxide) Validated |
| Fr 12 | 4.00 mm | 300 mm – 400 mm | 120 mm – 160 mm | 100% Medical Silicone / Latex | EO (Ethylene Oxide) Validated |
| Fr 14 | 4.67 mm | 300 mm – 400 mm | 120 mm – 160 mm | 100% Medical Silicone / Latex | EO (Ethylene Oxide) Validated |
| Fr 16 | 5.33 mm | 300 mm – 400 mm | 140 mm – 180 mm | 100% Medical Silicone / Latex | EO (Ethylene Oxide) Validated |
| Fr 18 - Fr 24 | 6.00 mm – 8.00 mm | 400 mm | 150 mm – 200 mm | 100% Medical Silicone / Latex | EO (Ethylene Oxide) Validated |
Sweden's specialized healthcare structure places exceptional emphasis on surgical precision, patient safety, and standardized clinical pathways. Kehr's T Tubes play a crucial role across several key surgical applications within major Swedish medical institutions such as Karolinska University Hospital (Stockholm), Sahlgrenska University Hospital (Gothenburg), and Skåne University Hospital (Lund/Malmö):
In cases of complicated choledocholithiasis where endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is unsuccessful or clinically contraindicated, Swedish HPB surgeons perform choledochotomy. The Kehr's T Tube is inserted into the CBD to splint the incision site, prevent bile leaks into the peritoneal cavity, and allow controlled biliary decompression.
During duct-to-duct biliary anastomosis in deceased or living donor liver transplants, maintaining anastomotic alignment and stenting the bile duct is vital. Our silicone Kehr's T Tubes provide tissue-neutral support, reducing the incidence of postoperative biliary strictures and leaks.
In severe abdominal trauma involving hepatic duct or common bile duct laceration, temporary placement of a T-tube stabilizes the biliary tree while providing a dedicated conduit for post-operative contrast studies (T-tube cholangiogram) prior to tube removal.
Procurement teams in Sweden operate under strict frameworks established by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) and local county councils. Understanding these localized trends is essential for medical equipment suppliers targeting the Nordic area:
Swedish healthcare authorities lead the European Union in phasing out hazardous plasticizers. Traditional PVC and rubber devices containing Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) or other orthophthalates face severe purchasing restrictions. Sterimed’s medical devices for Sweden are formulated using phthalate-free, non-leachable polyurethane and 100% platinum-cured silicone polymers, matching Sweden’s target for non-toxic hospital environments.
Sterilization processes must adhere strictly to ISO 11135 standards. Sterimed utilizes controlled multi-stage vacuum aeration cycles for Ethylene Oxide (EO) sterilized products, bringing residual levels far below the mandatory limits set by European Norms (EN 556-1), making them immediately safe for sensitive patient tissue exposure.
Under Swedish law, medical devices delivered to clinical settings must feature clear, compliant labeling including Swedish language Instructions for Use (IFU), international standardized ISO 15223-1 symbols, explicit expiration dates, and lot-specific barcoding for seamless EMR integration.
Established in 1955, Sterimed Group has grown to become one of India's largest and most technologically advanced manufacturers and exporters of medical disposables, surgical products, silicone tubing systems, and surgical adhesives. Operating state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, Sterimed serves clinical institutions in more than 90 countries across Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
Our production cleanrooms operate under strict Class 100,000 (ISO Class 8) environment standards with automated temperature, humidity, and positive pressure differential controls. Automated extrusion and injection molding ensure flawless product geometry.
Sterimed offers extensive private label capabilities for European medical device distributors. From custom pouch artwork and multilingual IFUs to specific unit box carton configurations, our packaging lines cater directly to regional distributor requirements.
Our export compliance team provides turnkey regulatory documentation including Declarations of Conformity, CE Certificates, ISO 13485 audits, free-sale certificates, and complete technical dossiers needed for Swedish region public tenders.
Yes. All Sterimed manufacturing plants are certified under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality management systems. Our surgical catheters, including Kehr's T Tubes and respiratory products, hold valid CE mark certifications and meet European Medical Device Directive / EU MDR requirements.
Absolutely. To comply with Swedish environmental and healthcare standards (such as Miljöutmaningen 2030), our silicone and medical PVC T-tubes are manufactured without DEHP, phthalates, or hazardous heavy metals, fully aligning with EU REACH requirements.
Our sterile biliary devices carry a 5-year shelf life from the date of manufacture. Each unit is individually peel-packed in medical-grade paper-film pouches and terminally sterilized using Ethylene Oxide (EO). Lot number, sterilization date, and expiry date are prominently displayed on each pouch and master carton.
Yes, Sterimed provides comprehensive OEM and private-label service programs. We can print your company logo, customized barcodes, unique product reference numbers, and Swedish/Nordic multi-language Instructions for Use (IFU) directly onto the primary and secondary packaging.
Our medical-grade silicone and formulated elastomers maintain physical elasticity and structural integrity across extreme temperature ranges (-20°C to +50°C). They undergo strict freeze-thaw stability testing to ensure no cracking or lumen deformation occurs during transit to northern European destinations.
For standard catalog inventory, orders are dispatched within 2 to 3 weeks. Custom OEM orders typically require 4 to 6 weeks. Air freight delivery directly to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) or Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) takes 5 to 7 business days, while sea freight to Port of Gothenburg takes approximately 25 to 30 days.
You can request complete technical tender dossiers—including raw material biocompatibility certificates (ISO 10993), sterilization validation reports, CE certificates, and sample units—by clicking the catalog button below to connect directly with our international export desk.
Connect with Sterimed Group's export specialists today to receive complete technical data sheets, high-resolution product catalogs, and competitive FOB/CIF quotation prices for the Swedish market.