Objective: To compare the efficiencies of bursting balloons and the risks of forming free fragments after rupture using needles, the stylet of a ureteric catheter, instillation with ether or overinflation.
Materials and methods: Two hundred 18 F 'silkolatex' Foley balloon catheters were divided into four groups of 50. Each balloon was inflated with 30 mL of distilled water, the catheters immersed in urine collected from healthy volunteers and maintained at 37 degrees C for 48 h. Attempts were made to burst the balloons with a needle (group 1), by overinflation (group 2), by ether instillation (group 3) and using the stylet of 7 F ureteric catheter through the inflation channel (group 4).
Results: The ratio of the burst to deflated balloons and the formation of free fragments were 100% and 0% in the group 1, 94% and 83% in the group 2, 100% and 100% in group 3 and 16% and 0% in the group 4, respectively.
Conclusion: Bursting the catheter balloons using a needle seems to be the most appropriate method, being efficient and having little risk of forming free fragments.