They show that due to the air-lock that occurs in the loop of the drainage tubing between the catheter and the drainage bag, the system actually becomes obstructing rather than draining. By raising and lowering the tubing, as we commonly do when we visit our postoperative patients, the drainage of the bladder can be facilitated, but the vent mechanism of the drainage tubing allows the air-lock to reoccur as bladder fluid pools in the dependent curl of the tubing. In 75 hospitalized patients, a mean residual bladder volume of 136 cc was noted during continuous Foley catheter drainage, and for every 1 cm in curl height of the tubing, the obstruction pressure increased by 1 cm H2O. Importantly, they also demonstrated that this pressure discrepancy and obstruction can be completely relieved by using simple spiral-shaped drainage tubing, much likely the self-coiling garden hose. This system would guarantee optimized flow by eliminating the associated air-lock and minimize the residual bladder urine. This may be critical in urologic patients undergoing reconstructive procedures in which extravasation may occur due to the bladder pressure of the urine, and consequently impede healing of tissues.

Garcia MM, Gulati S, Liepmann D, Stackhouse GB, Greene K, Stoller ML J of Urol; 177(1); 203-207

J of Urol; 177(1); 203-207

Read another Review of this Article on UroToday.com

UroToday.com Urologic Trauma & Reconstruction Section

Written by Elspeth M. McDougall, MD, a Contributing Editor with UroToday.

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