Urostomy

A urostomy is a type of stoma that drains urine rather than stool. It is needed when urine can no longer leave the body the usual way, often after the bladder is removed. The most common form is an ileal conduit: a surgeon takes a short piece of the small intestine (usually the ileum), shapes it into a tube, and connects the ureters to it so urine flows through the tube to a stoma on the abdomen and into a pouch (Cleveland Clinic).

The name tells you what the stoma carries. A urostomy drains urine, which sets it apart from a colostomy and an ileostomy, both of which drain stool.

Why it is done

The most common reason for a urostomy is removal of the bladder (cystectomy) to treat bladder cancer. Other reasons include bladder damage from trauma, disease, or radiation, spinal cord injuries, and certain conditions present from birth (Cleveland Clinic; NHS: Bladder cancer complications).

What daily life is like

Urine drains continuously into the pouch rather than being stored in the bladder, so there is no urge to go in the usual sense. A general guide is to empty the bag about as often as you used to use the bathroom before surgery, and not to let it get more than about a third to halfway full, which helps prevent leaks (Cleveland Clinic). Your stoma care nurse can show you a routine that fits your own day.