Help! EBP on not inflating foley balloon prior to insertion

[highlandlass1592]

Hi All. Been hearing for a while now that new EBP is stating NOT to check the foley balloon before it's inserted as there have been patient injuries due to the balloons not being fully deflated before insertion. Problem is, I haven't been able to find such documentation. Anyone got any links/information I can use? Thanks in advance.

[steelydanfan]

If the balloon does not deflate properly after testing, then why would NOT testing it prevent those wrinkles from occuring when you go to D/C the cath that's been in the pt.

I have NEVER seen BUMPS and Wrinkles in a cath I have tested and deflated. But I dont put in 10ccs as a test, either. 1/2 cc is enough to see if you have leakage, or a bad balloon.It deflates smoothly, without wrinkles.

[steelydanfan]

Never had one leak, but have had them not deflate....

Sandra is totally correct, what we are REALLY testing is the patency of the balloon duct, wish I had thought of that point....

[PamSmyth]

I teach NOT to test the balloon, its very easy to see the catheter is smooth prior to checking it, once you inflate and then deflate the balloon it has a little 'wing' that sticks out, and this is what causes the damage/irritation to the urethrea, what damage is done if the balloon leaks?

[firstinfamily, RN]

Maybe we should stop suctioning our patients because that might cause trauma as well!!! Any invasive procedure causes some form of trauma. Perhaps it was a defective bunch of catheters that were tested in the study?? Its not always us!!! Hey, I have to get a little sarcastic now and then!!

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Most facilities are latex free. And a silicone balloon is different, I think than a latex one. So it inflates/deflates differently.

I do find it amusing that the manufacturers are hip on the EBP reference....but I have had too little coffee this a.m.

Regardless, EBP from the manufacturer or not, whatever the policy is in your facility is what you should be following. And know it, as another thought is that facilities don't get reimbursed for catheter acquired infections. Therefore, there is a whole lot of policy on the correct way to insert a catheter per individual facility.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Maybe we should stop suctioning our patients because that might cause trauma as well!!! Any invasive procedure causes some form of trauma. Perhaps it was a defective bunch of catheters that were tested in the study?? Its not always us!!! Hey, I have to get a little sarcastic now and then!!

But there is evidence that suctioning is beneficial, therefore, the risk of some trauma is outweighed by the benefits. If there is no benefit it doesn't make sense to inflict that added trauma.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Since we did CPR on this thread...

Pretty simple for me: my facility's policy is not to test the balloon--that is what I am going by.

I'm pretty sure this police is evidence based, and I certainly do care about EBP; however, I really don't have the energy to research the EBP on such a relatively trivial issue.