A co-axial two-piece stiffener for use with an indwelling percutaneous catheter during insertion and removal of the catheter. The stiffener comprises inner and outer stiffener members with the inner member having a large diameter portion with an unconstrained diameter that is the same as or larger than the diameter of the outer stiffener member and a reduced diameter when constrained by the outer stiffener member that is smaller than the diameter of the outer stiffener member.
