Urine leakage in persons with spinal cord injury and using long-term Foley catheters: A simple solution

Abstract

Study design:To visualize residual urine in a bladder using a regular Foley catheter and then using a modified Foley catheter.Objectives:To determine whether a modified Foley catheter eliminates or reduces a catheter-associated deposition of residual urine around the balloon and whether this reduction eliminates catheter leakage.Settings:A patient with chronic spinal cord injury using a Foley catheter and experiencing significant refractory urine leakage around the catheter.Methods:The design of a Foley catheter and the way it drains lead to the constant presence of small amounts of residual urine at the base, surrounding the balloon. The Foley catheter was modified using a cook catheter punch to make two extra holes just below the balloon.Results:A cystogram of an unmodified Foley catheter showed the presence of residual urine around the Foley balloon. A cystogram of a modified Foley catheter eliminated this residual urine around the balloon. After the modification there was no more leakage around the Foley catheter.Conclusion:Modification of the catheter, as described, eliminated the residual urine around the catheter balloon and eliminated clinical urine leakage around the Foley catheter. © 2010 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.