Deflation techniques for faulty Foley catheter balloons: presentation of a cystoscopic technique.

The Foley catheter is used for drainage of the urinary bladder in < or = 15% of hospitalized patients and is self-retained by an inflatable balloon mechanism. Faulty balloon deflation, which leads to a retained catheter, is a condition treated by the urologist. In this article we describe a cystoscopic approach to deflation, evaluation, and recovery of retained fragments; review the techniques for deflation; and provide an algorithm to approach the retained Foley catheter.