Procedures

To help treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), your surgeon may perform a procedure called retropubic suspension. This surgery is done laparoscopically-that means through small incisions in the belly. During the surgery, sutures are used to firmly support the pelvic organs and help prevent urine leakage. Your surgery will take about 2 hour(s). You will be asked to do some things at home to prepare for surgery. Below are guidelines to help you get ready. If you have any questions, call your nurse or doctor.

The Weeks Before Surgery

• Tell your doctor about aspirin and other medications, vitamins, or herbs you take. Ask if you should stop taking them before surgery.
• Stop smoking to help reduce your risks during surgery.
• If you have been given any prescriptions to fill, do this before surgery.

The Night Before Surgery

• You may be asked to give yourself an enema. This cleans out your bowels for surgery. You’ll be told how to do it.
• Do not eat, drink, or chew anything after the midnight before surgery, as instructed. This includes water and chewing gum. But if you’ve been told to take any medications, swallow them with small sips of water.

The Day of Surgery

Arrive at the hospital a few hours before surgery as directed. Have someone drive you there who can also stay during the surgery, and drive you home. At the hospital, your temperature and blood pressure will be taken. In some cases, tests may be done. Then, you will receive one or more IV (intravenous) lines. These lines give you fluids and medications before, during, and after surgery. Some of your pubic hair may be removed. Tight stockings may be put on your legs to help prevent blood clots.

About Anesthesia

To keep you pain-free during surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia. General anesthesia allows you to sleep. Regional anesthesia numbs the lower part of your body. Local anesthesia numbs the area that will be operated on. Before surgery, you’ll meet with the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. He or she can tell you what kind of anesthesia you will receive and answer questions you may have.

During the Procedure

• Small incisions are made in the belly.
• A laparoscope (a thin, telescope-like tool) is put into the belly through one of the incisions. This lets the surgeon look inside your body.
• The surgeon performs the surgery through the other small incisions. Sutures (stitches) are put through the tissue next to the vagina to help support the urethra and bladder firmly in place. This helps keep the urethra closed to prevent urine leakage.
• The incisions are closed with sutures, staples, or strips of tape (Steri-Strips).

Risks and Complications

The risks and complications of this procedure may include:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Risks of anesthesia.
• Blood clots.
• Damage to nerves, muscles, bladder, or nearby pelvic structures.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Urinary urgency.

To help treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), your surgeon may perform a procedure called retropubic suspension. It is done by making an incision in the lower part of your belly (abdomen). During this surgery, the surgeon puts sutures (stitches) through the tissue next to the vagina to help support the urethra and bladder firmly in place. This helps keep the urethra closed to prevent urine leakage. Your surgery will take about 2 hour(s). You will be asked to do some things at home to prepare for surgery. Below are guidelines to help you get ready. If you have any questions, call your nurse or doctor.

The Weeks Before Surgery

• Have any tests that your doctor orders.
• Tell your doctor about aspirin and other medications, vitamins, or herbs you take. Ask if you should stop taking them before surgery.
• Stop smoking to help reduce your risks during surgery.
• If you have been given any prescriptions to fill, do this before surgery.

The Night Before Surgery

• You may be asked to give yourself an enema. This cleans out your bowels for surgery. You’ll be told how to do it.
• Do not eat, drink, or chew anything after the midnight before surgery, as instructed. This includes water and chewing gum. But if you’ve been told to take any medications, swallow them with small sips of water.

The Day of Surgery

Arrive at the hospital a few hours before surgery as directed. Have someone drive you there who can also stay during the surgery, and drive you home. At the hospital, your temperature and blood pressure will be taken. In some cases, tests may be done. Then, you will receive one or more IV (intravenous) lines. These lines give you fluids and medications before, during, and after surgery. Some of your pubic hair may be removed. Tight stockings may be put on your legs to help prevent blood clots.

About Anesthesia

To keep you pain-free during surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia. General anesthesia allows you to sleep. Regional anesthesia numbs the lower part of your body. Local anesthesia numbs the area that will be operated on. Before surgery, you’ll meet with the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. He or she can tell you what kind of anesthesia you will receive and answer questions you may have.

During the Procedure

• An incision about 4 inches long is made in the lower part of the abdomen, near the pubic hairline.
• Through the incision, the surgeon places sutures into the tissue next to the vagina. Or sutures may be placed into the outside walls of the vagina behind the urethra. The ends of the sutures are tied to strong tissues or bone nearby.
• The incision is closed with sutures, staples, or strips of tape (Steri-Strips).

Risks and Complications

The risks and complications of this procedure may include:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Risks of anesthesia.
• Blood clots.
• Damage to nerves, muscles, bladder, or nearby pelvic structures.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Urinary urgency.

To help treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), your surgeon may perform a procedure called pubovaginal sling surgery. A “sling” of tissue is placed like a hammock under the bladder and urethra. The sling helps support the bladder and urethra firmly in place. This helps keep the urethra closed to prevent urine leakage. Your surgery will take about 2 hour(s). You will be asked to do some things at home to prepare for surgery. Below are guidelines to help you get ready. If you have any questions, call your nurse or doctor.

The Weeks Before Surgery

• Have any tests that your doctor orders.
• Tell your doctor about aspirin and other medications, vitamins, or herbs you take. Ask if you should stop taking them before surgery.
• Stop smoking to help reduce your risks during surgery.
• If you have been given any prescriptions to fill, do this before surgery.

The Night Before Surgery

• You may be asked to give yourself an enema. This cleans out your bowels for surgery. You’ll be told how to do it.
• Do not eat, drink, or chew anything after the midnight before surgery, as instructed. This includes water and chewing gum. But if you’ve been told to take any medications, swallow them with small sips of water.

The Day of Surgery

Arrive at the hospital a few hours before surgery as directed. Have someone drive you there who can also stay during the surgery, and drive you home. At the hospital, your temperature and blood pressure will be taken. In some cases, tests may be done. Then, you will receive one or more IV (intravenous) lines. These lines give you fluids and medications before, during, and after surgery. Some of your pubic hair may be removed. Tight stockings may be put on your legs to help prevent blood clots.

About Anesthesia

To keep you pain-free during surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia. General anesthesia allows you to sleep. Regional anesthesia numbs the lower part of your body. Local anesthesia numbs the area that will be operated on. Before surgery, you’ll meet with the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. He or she can tell you what kind of anesthesia you will receive and answer questions you may have.

During the Procedure

• An incision 2 to 4 inches long is made in the lower part of your belly (abdomen), near the pubic hairline. A second small incision is made in the front wall of the vagina.
• If tissue from your body is used for the sling, it may be taken from your abdomen or thigh. If synthetic material or donor tissue is used, it is cut to the right size.
• Working through both incisions, the surgeon places the sling under the bladder and urethra. The ends of the sling are secured to strong tissues in your abdomen.
• The incision in the abdomen is closed with sutures (stitches), staples, or strips of tape (Steri-Strips). The vaginal incision is closed with sutures. Once this incision has healed, it should not cause you problems during sex.

Risks and Complications

The risks and complications of this procedure may include:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Risks of anesthesia.
• Blood clots.
• Damage to nerves, muscles, bladder, or nearby pelvic structures.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Urinary urgency.

To help treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), your surgeon may perform a procedure called tension-free vaginal sling surgery. A “sling” of tissue is placed under the urethra. The sling (tape) is made from synthetic (manmade) material. When the tension of the tape is adjusted, urine should no longer leak. Your surgery will take about 60 minutes. You will be asked to do some things at home to prepare for surgery. Below are guidelines to help you get ready. If you have any questions, call your nurse or doctor.

The Weeks Before Surgery

• Have any tests that your doctor orders.
• Tell your doctor about aspirin and other medications, vitamins, or herbs you take. Ask if you should stop taking them before surgery.
• Stop smoking to help reduce your risks during surgery.
• If you have been given any prescriptions to fill, do this before surgery.

The Night Before Surgery

• You may be asked to give yourself an enema. This cleans out your bowels for surgery. You’ll be told how to do it.
• Do not eat, drink, or chew anything after the midnight before surgery, as instructed. This includes water and chewing gum. But if you’ve been told to take any medications, swallow them with small sips of water.

The Day of Surgery

Arrive at the hospital a few hours before surgery as directed. Have someone drive you there who can also stay during the surgery, and drive you home. At the hospital, your temperature and blood pressure will be taken. In some cases, tests may be done. Then, you will receive one or more IV (intravenous) lines. These lines give you fluids and medications before, during, and after surgery. Some of your pubic hair may be removed. Tight stockings may be put on your legs to help prevent blood clots.

About Anesthesia

To keep you pain-free during surgery, you’ll receive anesthesia. General anesthesia allows you to sleep. Local anesthesia numbs the area that will be operated on. Before surgery, you’ll meet with the anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist. He or she can tell you what kind of anesthesia you will receive and answer questions you may have.

During the Procedure

• Two small incisions are made in the lower part of the abdomen (belly), near the pubic hairline. Another small incision is made in the front wall of the vagina.
• Working through the incisions, the surgeon places the tape like a hammock under the urethra. The two ends of the tape emerge through the abdominal incisions.
• If you’re given local anesthesia, your surgeon may tell you to cough so that the tension of the tape can be adjusted.
• When the tension is adjusted, the ends of the tape are cut and remain below the skin in the tissue of the abdominal wall. The healing process of the incisions holds the ends of the tape in place.
• The incisions in the abdomen and vagina are closed with sutures (stitches).

Risks and Complications

The risks and complications of this procedure may include:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Risks of anesthesia.
• Blood clots.
• Damage to nerves, muscles, bladder, or nearby pelvic structures.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Urinary urgency.

After a urostomy, you’ll have to care for your stoma and the skin around it (peristomal skin). You must keep the stoma clean and protect the peristomal skin from moisture and urine. This is to prevent skin problems and odor.

Checking the Stoma

• Check your stoma and the skin around it each time you change your pouch.
• Stand in front of a mirror, or use a hand mirror so that you can see the entire stoma.
• The stoma should look shiny, moist, and pink or red.
• The skin around it should be smooth, with no  red or broken spots.

Cleaning the Stoma

When you change your pouch, be sure to clean the stoma and the skin around it. Do this using warm water and a soft washcloth. Water does not harm the stoma.

• Clean and dry the stoma gently. Because the stoma has no sensory nerves, you could injure it without feeling any pain.
• The stoma may bleed a little when you clean it. That’s because it has tiny blood vessels. To stop the bleeding quickly, apply gentle pressure to  the stoma using a dry cloth or tissue.
• Be aware that urine will keep flowing out as you clean your stoma. You can use a folded paper towel or piece of gauze to absorb the urine.

Protect the Skin Around the Stoma

For the pouch to stick well, the peristomal skin needs to be dry and smooth. If the skin is moist or uneven, the pouch is more likely to leak. And any urine that leaks out of the pouch can pool on your skin. This can irritate the skin. Urine that leaks from the pouch can also cause odor or be absorbed by your clothes. You can help prevent these problems by following these steps:

• Be sure your skin is dry before applying the skin barrier. This helps keep the skin healthy. Always pat your skin dry after washing it. Or, try drying your skin with a hair dryer that’s set on “cool.”
• Try applying a skin barrier wipe before you put on a new pouch. This helps protect the skin if urine leaks around the pouch. A skin barrier wipe may shorten or lengthen the amount of time you can wear some pouches. Before using a wipe, check the product information enclosed with your pouch.

Call Your WOC Nurse or Other Healthcare Provider If:

• The skin around the stoma is red, weepy, bleeding, or broken.
• The skin around the stoma itches, burns, stings, or has white spots.
• The stoma swells, changes color, or bleeds without stopping.
• The stoma sinks below its normal level or below the skin.
• The stoma sticks up above the skin more than normal.

You’ve just had a urostomy. As part of your surgery, a small opening (stoma) was made on the abdomen. Urine and mucus drain from the stoma into a disposable pouch. You’ll be shown how to change your pouch before you leave the hospital. Plan to replace your pouch every few days. And change it early in the morning, when your urine output is less. To change your pouch, follow the steps below.

How to Change Your Pouch

Step 1: Prepare the new pouch.

1. Gather your supplies in the bathroom. These include plastic bags, toilet tissue, paper towels or a soft washcloth, a clean cloth or towel, an extra skin barrier wipe (if desired), and a new pouch.
2. If you don’t use a pouch with a precut skin barrier, size and cut the opening now.
3. Slowly peel the backing off the skin barrier. Set the skin barrier aside.
4. Empty the used pouch before removing it. When you empty the pouch, be sure to sit on the toilet. Or, stand in front of the toilet.

Step 2: Remove the used pouch.

1. When removing the used pouch, sit on the toilet. Or, stand in front of the toilet.
2. Carefully push the skin away from the skin barrier with one hand. Do this starting at the upper edge of the barrier. With the other hand, slowly peel the skin barrier off from top to bottom.
3. Seal the used pouch in a plastic bag. Then throw it away in a trash bin.

Step 3: Clean around the stoma.

1. Use toilet paper to wipe urine or mucus from the stoma or from the skin around it.
2. Clean the skin with warm water and a soft washcloth or paper towel. Wash right up to the edge of the stoma. You can also do this when you shower.
3. Pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

Step 4: Put on the new pouch.

1. Use a folded paper towel or a piece of gauze to keep your stoma dry while you’re putting on the new pouch.
2. Using one hand, pull the skin on your abdomen tight to smooth out any wrinkles. Place the barrier over the stoma.
3. Starting from the bottom of your stoma, apply the skin barrier. Put the palm of your hand over the barrier. Hold the barrier in place for 45 seconds. This molds it to your skin.
4. If you use a two-piece pouch, snap the pouch onto the skin barrier. Start at the bottom and work your fingers around the barrier.
5. Make sure the pouch drain is in the “closed” position. If this pouch has a drain cap, be sure to close it.
6. After you change the pouch, wash your hands.

Call Your WOC Nurse or Other Healthcare Provider If:

• The skin around the stoma is red, weepy, bleeding, or broken.
• The skin around the stoma itches, burns, stings, or has white spots.
• The stoma swells, changes color, or bleeds without stopping.
• The stoma sinks below its normal level or below the skin.
• The stoma sticks up above the skin more than normal.

You’ve just had a urostomy. As part of your surgery, a small opening (stoma) was made on the abdomen. Urine and mucus drain from the stoma into a disposable pouch. You’ll need to empty your pouch regularly when it gets to be about one-third full. The pouch is likely to become this full every 2 to 3 hours. Emptying your pouch keeps the pouch from bulging under your clothes. It also helps prevent leakage and odor. To empty your pouch, follow the steps below.

How to Empty Your Pouch

Step 1: Empty the pouch.

1. Sit on the toilet. Or, stand in front of the toilet. Put a layer of toilet paper in the toilet bowl to keep urine from splashing.
2. Pull your clothes away from the pouch.
3. Hold the pouch drain over the toilet bowl.
4. Open the pouch drain so that urine flows into the toilet.
5. Empty all the urine and mucus from the pouch. While holding the pouch with one hand, slide the fingers of your other hand down the pouch. This will help empty any mucus from the pouch.

Step 2: Close the pouch drain.

1. Once you’ve emptied the pouch, use a piece of toilet paper to dry the tip of the drain. This will keep any urine or mucus from getting on your clothes.
2. Put the pouch drain in the “closed” position. This may prevent leaking and odor.
3. Wash your hands after emptying the pouch.

You’ve just had a urostomy to provide a new way for urine to drain from your body. Follow the tips on this sheet to learn how to maintain your health and help prevent problems. 

A Few Words on Diet

Drinking Plenty of Water

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, unless your doctor has advised you to drink less fluid. Drinking plenty of water will help prevent urine odor and dehydration (when too much fluid is lost from the body).
• If you become dehydrated, less urine will flow from your stoma. You may feel thirsty and tired. And your skin and mucous membranes may get dry. You may also get stomach cramps.
• If you do get dehydrated, drink plenty of fluids.
• Call your healthcare provider if you can’t keep fluids down because of nausea or vomiting.

Taking a Shower or Bath

• You can take a shower or bath with or without your pouch.
• If you bathe without your pouch, you may want to do this in the morning. This is when your urine output is less.
• At other times of the day, showering is a better option than bathing. That way, any urine that flows from your stoma will run down the drain.

When You Have a Checkup

• After a urostomy, you may need to visit your healthcare provider every few months at first. After that, your stoma should be checked once a year.
• Any time your healthcare provider needs a urine sample, he or she should take it from your stoma. This will be done with a special catheter. Do not take a urine sample from your pouch.
• When you visit your healthcare provider, bring extra supplies in case you need to change your pouch.
• Always let your healthcare provider know right away about any problems with your urinary tract or stoma.

If You Have Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection

Call your WOC nurse or other healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of a urinary tract infection:

• Fever or chills.
• Kidney pain.
• Blood in your urine.
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine for more than a week.

Getting Support

Adjusting to a urostomy takes time. But your family and friends can help you. Your surgeon, WOC nurse, and other healthcare providers are there to answer your questions, too. And they can help you find a support group. This is a group of people who share similar concerns or problems. You can also contact the organizations listed below:

• United Ostomy Associations of America
• American Cancer Society
• Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

You’ve just had a urostomy. As part of your surgery, a small opening (stoma) was made on the abdomen. Taking good care of the skin around the stoma is very important to prevent skin problems. If a problem does occur, you need to know what to do. Listed below are some of the most common skin problems and steps you can take to manage them. If any of these problems lasts more than a week, call your WOC nurse or other healthcare provider. If your pouch leaks, use a measuring guide to check that the pouch opening is the correct size.

Common Skin Problems

• A leaking pouch can make the skin red and weepy. This may be caused by a pouch with an opening that is too big or too small. Use a measuring guide to check that the opening on the pouch is the correct size.
• Allergies to skin barriers can make the skin itch, burn, or sting. You may need to try a new skin barrier or change to a new kind of pouch.
• Yeast infections can make the skin red and itchy. These infections are more likely to occur if there’s sweat under the pouch. A pouch cover can help keep the skin beyond the skin barrier dry. You may need to ask your WOC nurse or other healthcare provider about using antifungal products.
• Urine pooling on the skin can make the skin look waterlogged. To prevent this, make sure your pouch fits well. Dry your skin thoroughly before you put on a new pouch.
• Hair under the pouch can make the skin inflamed. To avoid this, shave off any hair around the stoma with an electric razor. Always shave away from the stoma.
• Urine can crystallize, forming patches of dried urine on the stoma. To prevent this, put a washcloth soaked in equal parts vinegar and water on your stoma for a few minutes. Do this each time you change your pouch.

After a urostomy, urine drains into a disposable pouch. The pouch sticks to the skin around the stoma. An adhesive skin barrier holds the pouch in place. This barrier also protects the skin and prevents leakage. Most pouches are made of lightweight, odorproof plastic and lie flat against the body.

Types of Pouches

There are many styles of pouches. Your WOC nurse or other healthcare provider will help you select the one that’s best for you. The skin barrier has to fit around the stoma without touching it. The barrier must stick well to prevent leakage or odor from the pouch.

One-Piece Drainable Pouch

• The skin barrier and pouch come as one piece. The skin barrier holds the pouch onto the skin.
• Urine is emptied from the bottom of the pouch through a drain. The drain can be opened and tightly closed. Drain styles differ, depending on the pouch selected.

Two-Piece Drainable Pouch

• The skin barrier and pouch are separate pieces. The skin barrier is applied to the skin. The pouch snaps onto the skin barrier.
• Urine is emptied from the bottom of the pouch through a drain. The drain can be opened and tightly closed. Drain styles differ, depending on the pouch selected.

Sizing the Stoma Opening

For the pouch to fit around the stoma, the opening of the skin barrier must be the right size. Some openings are precut, and others must be measured and cut. To find the correct size for your stoma, use a measuring guide. Most pouches come with a guide in the box. Your healthcare provider may also give you one.

• Find the smallest hole on the guide that fits around the stoma without touching it. There should be about 1/8″ between the stoma and the hole on the guide.
• To cut the opening yourself, center the guide hole on the back of the skin barrier. Trace the pattern. Then cut the opening using curved scissors.
• For precut openings, order pouches with the sized openings that match the size of the hole on the measuring guide.

Pouch Accessories

You can buy other stoma care products through special catalogs, at medical supply stores, on the Internet, and at some drugstores.

• Powders and wipes add an extra layer of skin barrier. They also help protect irritated skin.
• Stoma paste and skin barrier wafers fill in uneven places in the skin around the stoma. This helps the pouch stick better.
• Convex skin barriers help make a better seal. They are used if the skin around the stoma is uneven or the stoma is level with or sinks below the skin. Some convex barriers come with a pouch attached. Others are inserts that can be added to any pouch.
• Pouch filters and deodorants help prevent odor.
• Ostomy belts help keep the pouch in place.
• Pouch covers help keep the skin under the pouch dry and comfortable.
• A night drainage system lets you sleep all night without emptying your pouch. This system can also help prevent urine from pooling around the stoma, which leads to infection.

You’ve just had a urostomy. As part of your surgery, a small opening (stoma) was made on the abdomen. Urine and mucus drain from the stoma into a disposable pouch. A night drainage system can be attached to the pouch before you go to bed. This system then collects and stores urine. That way, you can sleep all night without getting up to empty the pouch.

Parts of a Night Drainage System

The parts of a night drainage system are shown above. Some people use a catheter (tube) drainage bag to collect and store the urine overnight. Talk with your WOC nurse or other healthcare provider about what will work best for you.

Setting Up the Night Drainage System

There are several types of night drainage systems. Whichever type you chose, you need to set up the system before connecting it to the pouch. Be sure to do the following:

• The tubing and the container can come as one piece. But they can also come as two pieces. If they do, put one end of the tubing into the lid of the container. Keep connected until the container must be replaced.
• Each night, connect the other end of the tubing to your pouch.
• You may also need an adapter to do this. Most pouches come with such adapters. If you use an adapter, place it on the tubing. Keep the adapter connected until the container must be replaced.
• Replace the container when it starts to look cloudy or changes color.

At Night

The pouch should be about one-fourth full when you attach the drainage system to it at night. This will help urine flow into the tubing from the pouch. To attach the system to your pouch:

• Place the night drainage container in a basin on the floor next to your bed.
• Connect the tubing to the pouch.
• Open the closure on the pouch drain. This way, urine can flow through the tubing.
• Use a leg strap to keep the tubing next to your thigh. This will help prevent the tubing or pouch from twisting.

In the Morning

To detach the night drainage system from the pouch each morning:

• Return the pouch drain to the “closed” position to prevent leakage.
• Remove the lid from the night drainage container (but keep the tubing in place).
• Empty the night drainage container’s contents into the toilet.
• Rinse out the tubing and container with cool water in the bathroom sink or tub.

Cleaning the System

Clean the night drainage system every 2 to 3 days. Follow these steps:

• Set white vinegar, a measuring cup, and a funnel next to the bathroom sink or tub.
• Pour 1/4 cup vinegar through the tubing into the night drainage container.
• Pour 2 cups cool water through the tubing into the container.
• Let the tubing and container sit for at least 1 hour. Then, empty the contents into the toilet.
• Rinse out the tubing and container with cool water.
• Let the tubing and container air-dry.

Urostomy is surgery that provides a new way for the body to release urine (waste fluid). It is done when the bladder is diseased or damaged. During the surgery, the surgeon brings part of the urinary tract or some of the digestive tract through the abdominal wall. Urostomy can be done in any of the ways described below. In each case, a small opening (stoma) is made on the abdomen. This allows urine and mucus to pass out of the body.

The Urinary Tract

This tract rids the body of urine and is made up of many parts. They include two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethra.

Common Types of Urostomies

These include:

• An ileal conduit. This surgery makes a passage (conduit) from a segment of the ileum (last section of the small intestine). Urine leaves the body through this passage. One end of the conduit is sewn shut. The other end is brought through the abdominal wall to form a stoma. The ureters are detached from the bladder and connected to the conduit. Urine flows through the ureters and into the conduit. Urine then leaves the body through the stoma. This surgery does not change the way stool passes from the body. An ileal conduit is the most common type of urostomy.
• A colon conduit. This surgery is done much like an ileal conduit. But with a colon conduit the passage is made from a piece of the colon and not the ileum. The resulting stoma is bigger, as the colon is wider than the ileum.
• A ureterostomy. This surgery brings the ureters through the abdominal wall to form one or two stomas. In this case, the stoma or stomas are smaller. This is because the ureters are more slender than the ileum or the colon.

The Stoma

The stoma is an opening on the abdomen through which urine and mucus can pass. It is made by bringing the end of the ileum, the colon, or one or both ureters through the abdominal wall. This end is then turned back on itself, like a cuff.

• The stoma is pink or red and moist. This is because the insides of the ileum, the colon, and the ureters are like the inside of the mouth.
• The stoma shrinks to its final size 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Then it will be round or oval. The stoma will either be flat or it will sit 1/4″ to 1/2″ above the skin.
• With an ileal or a colon conduit, both urine and mucus pass through the stoma. After a ureterostomy, only urine goes through the stoma.