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

The Urostomy Association	Secretary: Mrs. Hazel Pixley 18 Foxglove Avenue, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 8UN 01889 563191	The Urostomy Association home
Macmillan Cancer Support	89 Albert Embankment London, SE1 7UQ 0207 840 7840 (office) 0808 808 0000 (Help line	Macmillan information
Patient UK		PatientUK information

Review date: June 2012

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