i placed 30 cc to a 16 fr 5 cc foley cath

Nurses General Nursing

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i put in 30 cc of water to a 16 fr 5cc cath...yep.. i did.. so now, what should i do? its been 6 days since i inserted the catheter and its been draining well. no adverses reactions noted or whatsoever. i just realized it now.. should i reinsert a new catheter or should i just get a sterile syringe and aspirate 20-25 cc of water from the catheter that way 5-10 cc of water will be left for the balloon???im anxious....i hope nothing bad happens to the patient. il go back to work tonight and clean up my mess. :( help!!

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I don't think you have a problem here. The solution in the balloon is sterile water or saline right? In the event that it bursts, there is no contamination problem, just the foley would slip out. the patient may have the sensation of fullness if the balloon is resting against the urethral opening of the bladder

Balloons are often over filled in practice to apply pressure to an area, usually to control bleeding. (up the nose to stop nosebleeds, in the rectum after abdominal perineal resection, in the bladder with catheter taped to thigh or abdomen for traction after bladder or prostate surgery). Every time I have deflated these balloons to remove the catheter, they have been vastly overfilled. I once withdrew 130 ml from a 30 ml balloon!

So, of all the errors (learning opportunities :)) you could make as a new nurse, I don't think this one's a big deal.

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Specializes in Surgery, Tele, OB, Peds,ED-True Float RN.

Just about to write to tell you that we use 30cc in our balloons in Urology to apply pressure post op, but noticed Boggles response. Just remove the 20cc or so and you will be fine! Once when I was orientating a student she asked how much a balloon would hold? So we did a little experiment (no patient involved of course)... it held 100cc before it burst. Of course I told her NEVER to use that much, but she just couldn't believe that the balloons could hold 30cc's!

You and the patient will be just fine!

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Our kits come with a prefilled syringe of like 5-10cc. Did you kit come with a pre-filled syringe? I have on occasion added a little more if the patient is leaking around the catheter. I believe they actually make balloons that hold 30cc those, so it must be for some reason.

Wait, I'm nursing student, am I missing something? How would filling the balloon more prevent leaking? The balloon is meant to "float" in the bladder and prevent the catheter tube from slipping out of the bladder. The only way to address leaking around the catheter is to increase the size of the catheter tube itself. Right? Thanks in advance for clarifying this for me.

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Specializes in Medical.
Wait, I'm nursing student, am I missing something? How would filling the balloon more prevent leaking? The balloon is meant to "float" in the bladder and prevent the catheter tube from slipping out of the bladder. The only way to address leaking around the catheter is to increase the size of the catheter tube itself. Right? Thanks in advance for clarifying this for me.

The balloon usually sits in the neck of the bladder, obstructing fluid from passing through the urethra on its own. If the catheter leaks or bypasses it can because the baloon is under- or over-filled, both of which prevent the balloon from snuggly filling the neck and thereby allowing urine to pass.

FYI: We never use saline to fill catheter balloons - over time the heat of the body can cause the sodium to chrystallise, preventing the balloon from being deflated. We had to get a urologist to remove one with a cystoscopic procedure once when the balloon didn't deflate and she said that was probably wh.

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what happened if the balloon burst inside the urinary bladder while introducing water inside the balloon??

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so it is better to use sterile water than PNSS.. Ah okey *nod*

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Those balloons are made to overfill, but that's a lot. But I wouldn't wait & go back in there - do the right thing & call your facility & tell them. I know ur saying u will go back in urself & correct it so u don't get caught, but that isn't the right thing to do. Don't be cowardly - call them today & let the NUM know what happened.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
The balloon usually sits in the neck of the bladder, obstructing fluid from passing through the urethra on its own. If the catheter leaks or bypasses it can because the baloon is under- or over-filled, both of which prevent the balloon from snuggly filling the neck and thereby allowing urine to pass.

FYI: We never use saline to fill catheter balloons - over time the heat of the body can cause the sodium to chrystallise, preventing the balloon from being deflated. We had to get a urologist to remove one with a cystoscopic procedure once when the balloon didn't deflate and she said that was probably wh.

Yes, we don't use NS either. Always use water when filling a balloon.

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whats the sign that the balloon has burst anyway? the catheter has been draining well.im so anxious now...because the wife of the patient is the type that will sue... o my gosh.

The sign is that the Foley is lying on the bed next to the patient.

Why on earth did you put 6 times more in the balloon (I don't care what the more experienced nurse said- the PACKAGE said 5cc)??? The folks who MADE the catheter.... Didn't want to waste water?

Seriously... the balloon will blow up before it can hurt the patient...but that isn't even near the point. If a patient has an order for 1mg of morphine, but you only have 2mg amps/vials/cartridges, will you just dump the whole thing in?:confused:

NOT trying to be mean....but IF you have the license - you are responsible- and even CNAs can be held legally accountable for their actions- especially when the product lists the volume to be inserted. Nobody will care about the other nurse's opinion when you are the one who actually did the wrong thing. :cool:

Think about your rationale before you do something - not 6 days later..... and the family is the type to sue? How did you arrive at this?

Is this even for real? :uhoh3: a.nurse.soon???? SO, just out there inserting catheters but not a nurse? Or is this something you normally do, and thought you'd see if the balloon held together?

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what happened if the balloon burst inside the urinary bladder while introducing water inside the balloon??

Nothing. It falls out.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

It's been two years since this post. I wonder how the nurse is doing? :)

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It's been two years since this post. I wonder how the nurse is doing? :)

LOL......once again, a resurrected dead thread :D

Thanks tokmom :D

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