New bladder probe technique: A novel use of the rigid Foley catheter guide

摘要

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe an inexpensive and effective instrument to help identify the bladder during difficult gynecologic surgeries. CASES: Two case reports describe the use of the rigid Foley catheter guide as a bladder probe in laparoscopic and vaginal surgery to help expedite identification of the bladder parameters and circumvent inadvertent bladder injuries among 2 challenging gynecologic cases with extensive bladder adhesions and difficult bladder anatomy. CONCLUSION: We found the novel use of the rigid Foley catheter guide as a bladder probe to be an inexpensive, safe, and effective tool to delineate the bladder borders. The advantages of the rigid catheter guide include its concomitant use with an indwelling Foley, continuous drainage of the bladder, good visibility of the operative field, and tactile feedback throughout its use. 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.