A COMPARISON OF VARIOUS METHODS TO BURST FOLEY CATHETER BALLOONS AND THE RISK OF FREE-FRAGMENT FORMATION

Objective To compare the efficiencies of bursting balloons and the ris ks of forming free fragments after rupture using needles, the stylet o f a ureteric catheter, instillation with ether or overinflation. Mater ials and methods Two hundred 18 F ''silkolatex' Foley balloon catheter s were divided into four groups of 50. Each balloon was inflated with 30 mL of distilled water, the catheters immersed in urine collected fr om healthy volunteers and maintained at 37 degrees C for 48 h. Attempt s were made to burst the balloons with a needle (group 1), by overinfl ation (group 2), by ether instillation (group 3) and using the stylet of 7 F ureteric catheter through the inflation channel (group 4). Resu lts The ratio of the burst to deflated balloons and the formation of f ree fragments were 100% and 0% in the group 1, 94% and 83% in the grou p 2, 100% and 100% in group 3 and 16% and 0% in the group 4, respectiv ely. Conclusion Bursting the catheter balloons using a needle seems to be the most appropriate method, being efficient and having little ris k of forming free fragments.