From the Research
Sterile water should be used to fill catheter balloons, not sterile saline. When inflating a urinary catheter balloon, always use the manufacturer-recommended volume of sterile water (typically 5-10 mL for adult catheters). This is based on the study by 1, which found that the use of saline or glycine in catheter balloons has an equivalent deflation failure rate to using water, but the practical implication of the difference in deflation volume between water and saline is not apparent. However, other studies have suggested that sterile saline should be avoided because the salt crystals can precipitate over time and potentially obstruct the inflation channel, making it difficult or impossible to deflate the balloon when the catheter needs to be removed 2, 3.
The most recent and highest quality study, 1, found that there was no failure to deflate in all 600 catheters, and the median deflation volume for water, saline, and glycine was 9.0,9.2, and 9.1 mL, respectively. However, the study by 3 found that sterile water might be preferred if bulb inflation must be maintained for more than 5 days.
Some key points to consider when filling catheter balloons include:
- Using the manufacturer-recommended volume of sterile water
- Drawing up the sterile water using aseptic technique
- Injecting the sterile water slowly into the inflation port
- Following the specific volume recommendations for the particular catheter being used
- Avoiding the use of sterile saline due to the potential for salt crystals to precipitate and obstruct the inflation channel.
Overall, the use of sterile water to fill catheter balloons is recommended due to its safety and effectiveness, as supported by the study by 1.