title: Defining small bowel strictures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Strictures of the intestine can be difficult to detect despite current radiological techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review our experience with a new Foley catheter technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three cases are reviewed in which a Foley catheter was used to identify a fibrous stricture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A Foley catheter with an inflated 10ml balloon inserted through an enterotomy successfully identified the site of stricture in three cases of fibrous stricture obstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A Foley catheter inserted through an enterotomy is a useful method of identifying fibrous strictures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Brannigan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014546:Urinary Catheterization