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Introduction
Foley urinary catheters are commonly used to control posterior epistaxis in most ENT departments. However, there are very few studies of the ideal substance for Foley catheter balloon inflation in this clinical setting; indeed, this catheter has not been designed or licensed for this purpose.1 The most common substances used for catheter balloon inflation are air, water and saline. To our knowledge, there is no standard set in the literature regarding evidence for the ideal fluid for catheter inflation, and certainly research in this area is limited.
One study compared water with air, and concluded that water was a better choice than air due to its longer inflation time.2 Some authors recommend air as the best option, as this avoids the risk of aspiration and, more rarely, the possibility of rupture of the...