Urostomy

A Urostomy (also know as an ileal conduit) is the result of a surgical operation that  usually removes the bladder in its entirety (but not always) and joins the ureters (the pipes from the kidneys) into a piece of the small intestine (the ileum), hence the term “ileal conduit”. The ileum is then brought to the surface of the abdomen. It is often called a stoma for short. A specialist appliance (bag), available free on an NHS prescription if the condition is permanent, is required to collect the waste (urine and mucus) from the stoma.

This operation is performed for many reasons, mainly related to several differing types of cancer but by no means exclusively.

Having a Urostomy may affect the way in which an individual feels about their body and its function.

Specialist help is available from Stoma care Nurse Specialists (found at nearly all NHS hospitals and many of whom cover a community area)

Contacts

Review date: November 2010