Optimal filling solution for silicone Foley catheter balloons

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Silicone Foley catheters are widely used in veterinary medicine.
• Maintaining proper balloon inflation is crucial for catheter function and patient safety.
• The optimal inflation medium for veterinary Foley catheter balloons requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of sterile water, 0.9% saline, and air in maintaining the filling volume and diameter of veterinary silicone Foley catheter balloons.
• To determine the ideal inflation medium for short-term (≤5 days) and longer-term (>5 days) Foley catheter balloon inflation in a simulated physiological environment.

Main Methods:

• Forty-five 8-French silicone Foley catheters were used, with balloon inflation using 5 mL of sterile water (n=15), 0.9% saline (n=15), or air (n=15).
• Catheter balloons were submerged in synthetic urine at 38°C to simulate physiological conditions.
• Bulb volume and diameter were measured on days 3, 5, and 10 post-inflation.

Main Results:

• On days 3 and 5, both sterile water and saline groups maintained significantly greater bulb volume and diameter compared to the air group.
• No significant difference in volume or diameter was observed between the sterile water and saline groups during the first 5 days.
• By day 10, all air-inflated bulbs had deflated, 4 out of 5 sterile water-inflated bulbs remained intact with an average volume of 2.8 mL, and only 1 saline-inflated bulb remained intact.

Conclusions:

• Both sterile water and 0.9% saline are effective and acceptable media for inflating veterinary silicone Foley catheter balloons for up to 5 days.
• Sterile water demonstrates superior performance for maintaining balloon inflation beyond 5 days compared to saline and air.
• Sterile water is recommended for veterinary Foley catheter balloon inflation when sustained inflation is required for durations exceeding 5 days.