Male foley came out after irrigation?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm in a new patients home (private duty LPN)... He has a Foley catheter in... The order is to flush it every 2 hours with 60 cc... I had just started my shift and it was time to irrigate. I did. However, the patient yelled in extreme pain. I had no idea what was going on because I was irritating it correctly. I didn't even finish putting all 60 cc in because he was in extreme pain. I come back a few mins later and the catheter had completely come out!

Why would this have happened? What could have caused the extreme pain and then for it to come out?

I had to put a new Foley in.

I'm scared to irrigate it for fear of this happening.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Did you accidentally irrigate the balloon, resulting in it popping?

Thats the only explanation that covers all of the details. Poor guy:no:

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Specializes in Urology, HH, med/Surg.

Is it possible the balloon had partially deflated & was in urethra when it was irrigated? That would explain the pain as well. It doesn't happen often but I have seen catheters with defective balloons that the water leaks out of over time.

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Is it possible the balloon had partially deflated & was in urethra when it was irrigated? That would explain the pain as well. It doesn't happen often but I have seen catheters with defective balloons that the water leaks out of over time.

I can see this as an explanation. I'm not really understanding why others saying that potentially over-inflating the retention balloon and rupturing it would cause pain. If the balloon was in the bladder even that (although not intended) shouldn't cause pain. Bladders can hold 100's even 1000+cc why do people think inflating a balloon to 60cc and rupturing it would cause pain? Now if it was partially deflated and in the urethra then yes...pain. Or if it was partially deflated and in the urethra and the foley was being correctly irrigated that might cause pain.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Thats the only explanation that covers all of the details. Poor guy:no:

Don't agree.I have seen balloons partially deflate and cause pain during flushing because it's at the mouth of the bladder entering the urethra.I have seen them fail for no apparent reason.Have cared for people with thick sediment requiring flushing Q shift or Q4 hours,I agree with someone else's comment,a urology follow up is in order.Continuous bladder irrigation may be more appropriate and comfortable for this patient

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Specializes in ICU.

So one of two things may have happened. I agree with previous comments, you may have accidentally flushed the balloon instead of irrigating the catheter.

Or quite possibly, the catheter was improperly placed. It could have not been in the bladder, and at the junction of the urethra & bladder neck, or even within the urethra. Both of which can cause extreme pain.

It's understandable to feel hesitant to perform that task again, but the only way to overcome the fear is to get back on the saddle.

Maybe take a fellow nurse with you the next time.. for support and mental clarity.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

What kind of syringe did you use to irrigate the foley? A catheter tip syringe used to irrigate the lumen of a foley catheter will not fit into the balloon inflation port (which requires a Luer Lock tip) in the foley catheters I am familiar with.

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Specializes in Community/ Home Health.

If the balloon was irrigated accidentally, would it have been able to inflate enough to largely expand, burst and cause pain? Just asking out of curiosity. Not sure how much "give" these balloons have since typically they hold 10cc.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
If the balloon was irrigated accidentally, would it have been able to inflate enough to largely expand, burst and cause pain? Just asking out of curiosity. Not sure how much "give" these balloons have since typically they hold 10cc.

Really?Currently only stock 18 french/30cc balloon.It strikes me how everyone wants to put the onus on the OP......Maybe you all don't have as much experience with foley catheters so you think your answer is the only answer ,that the OP irrigated incorrectly.Not too long ago we had a run of balloons bursting for no reason.Was equipment failure across the board,the company replaced the shipment.It is kind of tough to flush the wrong hole,IMHO but what do I know?.I worked with a nurse who hooked up a tube feeding to patients urinary catheter....

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It sounds like the balloon popped as you were flushing. How old was the folley? The balloon might have just thinned out and pop or you flushed the balloon port.

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Really?Currently only stock 18 french/30cc balloon.It strikes me how everyone wants to put the onus on the OP......Maybe you all don't have as much experience with foley catheters so you think your answer is the only answer ,that the OP irrigated incorrectly.Not too long ago we had a run of balloons bursting for no reason.Was equipment failure across the board,the company replaced the shipment.It is kind of tough to flush the wrong hole,IMHO but what do I know?.I worked with a nurse who hooked up a tube feeding to patients urinary catheter....

I agree. I just don't see how it could have been the OP fault. I'm sure there was pain....but not OP causing it by doing something incorrectly....just doesn't make sense.

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