Please note the use of Foley catheters for postpartum hemorrhage is off-label. This device should only be used by trained medical personnel when clinically appropriate.
Download the Suction Tamponade Protocol
Free. Evidence-informed. Designed for rapid implementation
Step 1
Evaluate the patient for the cause of bleeding. If atony is suspected empty the uterus of any retained clots or placenta.
Step 2
Insert the Foley in the uterus and fill the balloon to capacity. Pack the vagina with vaginal packing if necessary to keep the balloon in place
Step 3
Attach the Foley to suction at 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa), no more than 525mmHg (70 kPa)
Step 4
Monitor the patient and the bleeding. Bleeding should resolve within 5 minutes. If bleeding does not resolve or patient becomes unstable consider additional interventions as indicated.
Step 5
Administer antibiotics if available and not previously administered (1g Azithromycin if recently delivered a live infant, or 200mg Doxycycline if the patient had miscarriage or abortion)
Step 6
After 60 minutes of the patient being stable, but no more than 24 hours, first deflate the balloon, then discontinue the suction. The Foley should stay in place for 1 hour during which bleeding is monitored after which the Foley can be removed.
Educational Materials
If you use FOCUS and would like to teach colleagues in your institution, these slides are available to help. Feel free to adapt them to your needs Powerpoint , PDF
Submit your case to the FOCUS PPH registry
Join a global network of providers contributing real-world data on this innovative hemorrhage control method.
We’re collecting prospective cases where vacuum-induced uterine tamponade was used with a Foley catheter where other techniques or devices weren’t suitable or available.