Retained Fractured Foley Catheter: A Rare Case Report
Ugochukwu Ikedichi Alili
Department of Surgery, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria and Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
Sylvester Uche Eluehike
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria and Department of Radiology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
Friday Emeakpor Ogbetere *
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Edo State University, Iyamho, Edo State, Nigeria.
Jesse Ighosotu Gold
Department of Surgery, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Removing a Foley catheter could sometimes be problematic. When difficulty is encountered during removal of a Foley catheter, force should never be applied because of the dangers of traumatizing the bladder neck and the urethra resulting in severe bleeding and stricture subsequently. This case report is about a 72-year old man who had retained Foley catheter caused by non-deflation of the catheter balloon. Force was applied in an attempt to remove the catheter which resulted in pulling the catheter into the urethra and also fracturing the catheter, leaving a part of it with the balloon in the urethra. Catheter balloon was located by transperineal ultrasound which also guided catheter balloon puncture. Our team utilized a novel approach to puncturing and draining the catheter balloon via an ultrasound guided needle. Retained catheter was removed by milking it out which was enhanced by adequate analgesia and generous urethral lubrication. This report highlights the importance of ultrasonography in the management of a retained fractured catheter.
Keywords: Foley catheter, ultrasound, catheter balloon, bladder, ultrasonography