Podcast # 344: Foley troubleshooting

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD.

Educational Pearls:

• When foley is stuck, balloon may not have deflated.

• Make sure balloon is not in the urethra, which can block drainage.

• Cut off the port as it may be obstructed.

• If still not draining, pass guide wire through port to unclog catheter.

• Other techniques have been described using mineral oil to dissolve, rupturing the balloon through over-inflation, and transcutaneous guided drainage.

• Crystallization can be a cause of catheter obstruction - sterile water may be a better solution to inflate the ballon than saline when it is first placed.

References

Khan SA, Landes F, Paola AS, Ferrarotto L. Emergency management of the nondeflating Foley catheter balloon. Am J Emerg Med. 1991 May;9(3):260-3. PubMed PMID: 2018599.

Hollingsworth M, Quiroz F, Guralnick ML. The management of retained Foley catheters. Can J Urol. 2004 Feb;11(1):2163-6. PubMed PMID: 15003159.