RETENTION BALLOON CATHETERS AND BARIUM ENEMAS - ATTITUDES, CURRENT PRACTICE AND RELATIVE SAFETY IN THE UK

Balloon catheters have been associated with increased morbidity and mo rtality leading some to believe they should be banned, yet others find them both useful and safe if used properly. Questionnaires were sent to all Consultant Radiologists in the UK to document current practice. Particular attention focused on whether eight safety aspects are cons idered during their use. In this entirely retrospective study complica tions with both balloon and standard tip catheters were recorded durin g the 3-year-period 1992 to 1994 to assess their relative safety. Twen ty-two percent of UK Radiologists routinely used a rectal balloon. Thi s was not associated with any increase in mortality, but extraperitone al rectal perforation was increased by a factor of 2.5. The routine us e of retention balloon catheters may not be justified.