It rarely comes out on its own. It requires a special stylet and the technique is more difficult than with a Foley catheter. This is the catheter that most patients use once the original catheter is replaced. This catheter has an inflatable balloon which is filled after the catheter is in the stomach. The balloon keeps the catheter from migrating.
Parents can insert the tube at home with ease.
Patients don't usually even feel the tube being re-inserted. The balloon on the catheter is eventually eaten by gastric acids and the balloon pops, the tube comes out. The tube requires syringes to inflate the balloon. The tube can migrate down into the small intestine, causing symptoms similar to small bowel obstruction, if the tube is not secured properly. All rights reserved.