Foley Catheters as Temporary Gastrostomy Tubes: Experience of a Nurse-Led Service

Gastroenterol Nurs. 2016 Jul-Aug;39(4):273-7. doi: 10.1097/SGA.0000000000000187.

Abstract

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube is the modality of choice for long-term enteral nutrition. In the event that replacement tubes are not available, urinary catheters can be used to maintain patency of the gastrostomy tract. This study reports our experience in a nurse-led service using Foley catheters as temporary gastrostomy tubes and the associated complications. Patients who had used Foley catheter as gastrostomy tube over a 2-year period (Jan 2011 to December 2012) were studied. Twenty-one patients had used Foley catheters as a temporary gastrostomy tube, and 12 (57.4%) did not experience any complications, including three patients who were still using Foley catheters at a median of 15 months (range 3-18). Two patients preferred the Foley catheter as feeding tubes. Six patients had replacements with formal balloon replacement tubes, and two patients did not require replacement. Complications occurred in nine (42.6%) patients: repeated burst Foley catheter balloon with peristomal leakage (n = 4), lumen blockage (n = 1), and catheter migration resulting in small bowel obstruction (n = 4). All complications were successfully managed with tube replacements. We showed that in a nurse-led service, using a Foley catheter as a temporary feeding gastrostomy tube is safe, but requires monitoring for complications.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Catheters, Indwelling / adverse effects
  • Catheters, Indwelling / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Employee Performance Appraisal
  • Enteral Nutrition / instrumentation
  • Enteral Nutrition / methods
  • Enteral Nutrition / nursing*
  • Female
  • Gastrostomy / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Leadership
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Nurse Clinicians / organization & administration*
  • Nurse's Role
  • Nurses
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Time Factors