UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Procedures

Title: Foleys and NG Tubes

Keywords: Lidocaine, Foley, NG tube (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/11/2009 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 4/25/2024)
Click here to contact Michael Bond, MD

NG Tubes and Foleys:

Dovetailing off Dr. Hayes Lidocaine pearl on Thursday I thought we could provide an additional pearl on how to decrease pain with the insertion of Foleys and NG tubes.

Most providers use regular surgilube and coat the tip of the NG  tube and foley with it prior to inserting it.  Unfortunately this tends to only lubricate the first several centimeters of the passage you are trying to transverse, making the rest of the way a little uncomfortable.

Using a Uroget of viscious lidocaine allows you to actually inject the lubricant into the nares or urethral meatus.  This will provide better lubrication of the entire passage and also provide some anesthesia.

Even if you do not want to use lidocaine most foley kits come with a syringe full of surgilube that can be injected into the urethral meatus helping to lubricate the passage.