Pronounced: Your-os-toe-me
A urostomy allows urine to pass out of the body through a stoma (small hole) in the abdomen. A tube is connected from the urinary system to the stoma. Urine passes through the tube into an external pouch. Sometimes, an internal pouch, or neobladder, can be created.
A urostomy tube may be needed if urine can no longer pass from the kidneys through the bladder and out the urethra. If this occurs, urine can back up. This can cause damage to the kidneys. Causes for this include:
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a urostomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
Your appointments before the surgery may include:
You may also need to:
General anesthesia will be used. It will block any pain. It will keep you asleep through the surgery.
An incision will be made in the abdomen. This will expose the bladder area. The doctor will attach a tube to part of the urinary tract. The other end of the tube will be attached to an external pouch or a pouch in the abdomen. The doctor will close the incisions. Depending on the cause of the urinary system problem, other procedures may need to be done.
Your breathing tube will be removed. You will be taken to the recovery room.
About 2-5 hours (depending on your condition)
Anesthesia will prevent pain during the surgery. During recovery, your doctor will give you pain medicine.
You will be in the hospital for about 5-12 days. This will depend on your condition and the reason for surgery. Your doctor may keep you in the hospital longer if you have any complications.
At the hospital, you will:
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
After you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:
If you think you have an emergency, CALL 911.
RESOURCES:
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/
United Ostomy Association of America
http://www.uoaa.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/
Canadian Urological Association
http://www.cua.org/
References:
Kellicker P. Discharge instructions for cystectomy. EBSCO Patient Education Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=1034. Updated October 1, 2009. Accessed February 10, 2010.
Kohnle D. Cystectomy. EBSCO Patient Education Reference Center website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/thisTopic.php?marketID=16topicID=1034. Updated November 1, 2009. Accessed February 10, 2010.
United Ostomy Associations of America website. Available at: http://www.uoaa.org/. Accessed February 10, 2010.
Urostomy a guide. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_Urostomy.asp. Accessed February 10, 2010.
Last reviewed March 2010 by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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