helmstein balloon

[callie0767]

hi everyone,
has anyone ever had the helmstein balloon procedure? my doctor has suggested it but don't know much about it. have had many cystos which usually works for me for awhile.just wandering if anyone has had any experience with this.

[Katrina]

:welcome: :welcome: :welcome: :welcome: :welcome: Happy to see you posting! I do not know anything about this procedure ....I sincerely hope someone here will respond that does. I hope to see you around the boards some more!!!! :grouphug: :grouphug:

[Jeanne D.]

The Helmstein balloon has been used as a hydrodistension therapy for people with severe bleeding of the bladder. The pressure exerted against the bladder, by the filled balloon, has been effective in relieving hemmorrhage.

A balloon, which is attached to a foley catheter, is inserted into the bladder via the urethra. The procedure is done under epidural anesthesia. Once the balloon is inserted it is usually filled with sterile saline to 10-25 cmH2O above diastolic blood pressure (basically about 10-25 points higher than the lower number of your blood pressure reading - example: if you B/P is 120/80 the balloon will be inflated to 90-105 cmH2O ).

The balloon is usually left inflated for approximately 6 hours and then deflated. A three way foley catheter may be inserted after the procedure for irrigation of the bladder.

Jeanne

[callie0767]

wow, thanks for all the info. i've had this 21 years but haven't heard much about this procedure. i am scheduled for october 15. has anyone ever had this done before?