[Techniques and "tricks": different uses of Foley catheter in cardiovascular surgery].

The use of Foley catheter is well established for bladder catheterization. The authors have used it, occasionally, in many unconventional ways to cope with difficult situations found at surgery. 1.Catastrophic haemorrhage during redo sternotomy. 2. Non touch technique for graft to aorta proximal anastomosis during CABG surgery in patients with heavily calcified aortas. 3. Proximal anastomosis of ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits, done with a beating heart. The use of this simple ''Colombo egg'' method has been useful to us in many difficult situations. It is safe and non expensive and should make part of everyone's surgical armamentarium.