Post Foley catheter insertion balloon deflation/reinsertion

[nightshift82]

Many years ago some nurses who cared for patients complaining of pain or urge to urinate post foley insertion would deflate the balloon,re-adjust the catheter and re-inflate the balloon. I would never do this because this because it was not sterile. I recently heard of it again and was wondering if others practice the same? If there is a concern that the balloon became dislodged into the urethra it should be removed and a new catheter placed?

[Floor_Nurse]

Something doesn't sound right here! The orafice (opening) of the cath is a bit beyond the balloon so there shouldn't be any problem there. "Readjustment" sounds like it is being moved in and out?

[NurseCard, ADN]

I have heard of the balloon being deflated and re-inflated WHILE the catheter is still

inside the urethra/bladder, that is sterile. Deflating the balloon, taking the cath

completely OUT and then reinserting it? Not a good idea.

HOWEVER, lets think about that for a minute. You've just taken a catheter

straight out of a sterile area, and without touching anything else,

reinsert it. Is that really non-sterile? I mean, I would never do it,

but... thoughts?

[nightshift82]

The catheter has been in place for a few days...they are deflating the balloon, not taking it out but advancing it higher...thinking that it may be in the neck or urethra...still not sterile. Anyone heard og this practice?

[MunoRN, RN]

An urge to urinate is not an abnormal finding in someone with a foley catheter, it's fairly normal, so advancing the catheter isn't going to help. The sensation that you need to urinate occurs when the tissue at the bottom of the bladder (trigone) is stretched or is under pressure, the foley balloon sits right on top of this spot, so it can mimic the sensation of a full bladder. What you should do when a patient complains of this is to make sure the foley is not under any tension and properly anchored to maintain some slack so it's not pulling the balloon down onto the bottom of the bladder.

[nightshift82]

Thanks you are correct. I was also upset about the intervention of deflating the balloon and inserting it higher and then re-inflating. Is this a practice that others are doing? Any thoughts?

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

Deflating the balloon, sliding the catheter in further, and reinflating doesn't really make sense to me. There's nothing that prevents the catheter from sliding in further under normal (inflated) conditions. The balloon just keeps it from sliding OUT. I assume the catheter slides in a bit with normal movement anyway, right? It should be anchored so it doesn't move too much but it has to have enough leeway to allow the legs & torso full range of motion.

I have had patients say that it feels like they have to urinate when the catheter is under traction (accidentally) but the sensation is relieved by relieving the traction. For patients who persistently have this sensation, I've seen ditropan ordered and, of course, getting the Foley out as soon as possible.