A Prospective Multi-institutional Study Using a Novel Safety Valve for the Prevention of Catheter Balloon Inflation Injury of the Urethra

Reply by Authors

“…We greatly value Dr Lawrentschuk’s insights into the value and applicability of this novel urethral safety valve to prevent catheter balloon injury (CBI) of the urethra. 1 Emergency departments have been particularly enthusiastic in their adoption of the safety valve, as in our experience this is where the majority of injuries occurred. We accept that CBI may also be a consequence of poor catheterization technique and that improved education of support staff serves as an important adjunct to the introduction of the safety valve.…”

This Month in Adult Urology

“…Although an early experience, the authors highlight the ability of this novel imaging system to improve surgical precision, adding yet another potential tool to our armamentarium for managing complex renal masses.Next, O'Connor et al (page 179) in a prospective multi-institutional study assessed a novel transurethral catheterization safety valve to prevent urethral catheter balloon injuries. 2 For the average reader of The Journal, this likely has tremendous appeal for everyday practice. If the catheter's anchoring balloon is attempted to be inflated in the urethra, a safety valve allows fluid in the catheter system to vent through a pressure relief valve.…”