Managing the Nondeflating Urethral Catheter
Managing the Nondeflating Urethral Catheter
Background: Urethral catheterization is a routinely performed procedure in hospitalized patients. Numerous complications have been reported secondary to urethral catheter placement.
Methods: The medical literature was searched using the following key words: "urethral catheter," "complications," and "management." A case report is described and a review of the literature is provided to assist in managing the nondeflating urethral catheter balloon.
Results and Conclusions: All physicians who order urethral catheters must be aware of the possibility of a nondeflating catheter balloon and be comfortable with its initial management. The literature has an abundance of techniques for managing the nondeflating urethral catheter balloon. The approach and algorithm provided serve as a guide for the management of this complication by the family physician.
One of the most commonly performed invasive procedures in hospitalized patients is urethral catheterization with a Foley catheter. It has been estimated that 10% to 15% of hospitalized patients will undergo Foley catheter drainage at some time during their admission. Foley catheters are used routinely for both short- and long-term drainage of the urinary bladder and have been associated with a great many complications including infections, catheter encrustation, catheter blockage, bladder spasms, balloon rupture, leakage, and retained catheter. These complications occur more commonly with chronic indwelling catheters but can happen with short-term use as well. The retained Foley catheter is a vexing problem that many physicians are likely to encounter by during their careers. The purpose of this article is to review the methods available for the removal of retained Foley catheters caused by balloons that will not deflate and provide the family physician with strategies for managing this problem.
Background: Urethral catheterization is a routinely performed procedure in hospitalized patients. Numerous complications have been reported secondary to urethral catheter placement.
Methods: The medical literature was searched using the following key words: "urethral catheter," "complications," and "management." A case report is described and a review of the literature is provided to assist in managing the nondeflating urethral catheter balloon.
Results and Conclusions: All physicians who order urethral catheters must be aware of the possibility of a nondeflating catheter balloon and be comfortable with its initial management. The literature has an abundance of techniques for managing the nondeflating urethral catheter balloon. The approach and algorithm provided serve as a guide for the management of this complication by the family physician.
One of the most commonly performed invasive procedures in hospitalized patients is urethral catheterization with a Foley catheter. It has been estimated that 10% to 15% of hospitalized patients will undergo Foley catheter drainage at some time during their admission. Foley catheters are used routinely for both short- and long-term drainage of the urinary bladder and have been associated with a great many complications including infections, catheter encrustation, catheter blockage, bladder spasms, balloon rupture, leakage, and retained catheter. These complications occur more commonly with chronic indwelling catheters but can happen with short-term use as well. The retained Foley catheter is a vexing problem that many physicians are likely to encounter by during their careers. The purpose of this article is to review the methods available for the removal of retained Foley catheters caused by balloons that will not deflate and provide the family physician with strategies for managing this problem.
