Bard Bardex Lubricath Temperature-Sensing Foley Catheter

Inflation/Deflation Guidelines

• Proper Catheter Inflation:
  - Ensure that the Bard Foley catheter balloon is positioned well within the patients bladder. Slowly, with a gentle, constant force, inflate the Bard Foley catheter balloon with the volume prescribed on the package
  - Note that the 5cc balloon must be inflated with 10cc of sterile water
  - Improperly inflated Bard Foley catheter balloons may cause drainage and deflation difficulties
  - Using fluid other than sterile water may cause the balloon not to empty properly, especially after long dwell times


• Catheter Deflation:
  - Select a luer slip syringe
  - Slide the plunger of the syringe up and down the barrel of the syringe several times to loosen it up
  - Compress the plunger all the way and then pull back the plunger slightly so that it does not adhere to the front of the syringe barrel
  - Gently insert the syringe in the catheter valve
  - Do not use more force than is required to make the syringe stick in the valve
  - Allow the pressure within the balloon to force the plunger back and fill the syringe with water
  - If you notice slow or no deflation, re-seat the syringe gently. Once again, allow the balloon to deflate slowly on its own
  - If the balloon does not deflate, reposition the patient
  - Ensure that the catheter is not in traction, the proximal end of the catheter is not compressed within the bladder neck
  - Ensure that urine flows freely
  - Attempt to deflate the balloon by using the pressure in the balloon to force water into the syringe as described above
  - If the balloon stills fails to deflate, apply very gentle slow aspiration. Aspiration that is too rapid, or too forceful, may cause the inflation lumen within the Foley catheter to collapse
  - If permitted by hospital protocol, the valve arm may be severed
  - If this fails, contact an adequately trained professional for assistance, as directed by hospital protocol