WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about urostomy creation? Urostomy creation is surgery to create a new way for urine to drain from your body. You may need a urostomy if you have bladder cancer or a birth defect that affects your bladder. Damage to nerves in the bladder or chronic inflammation in your bladder may also lead to a urostomy. After a urostomy, urine will drain through an opening in your abdomen called a stoma. The urine collects in a pouch. You will need to empty the pouch regularly. How do I prepare for urostomy creation? - Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. You may be given antibiotics to take for a few days before surgery to prevent infection.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery. Ask the person to stay with you for 24 hours.
- Healthcare providers will find the best place for the stoma to be created. You may be given a sample pouch to wear. Healthcare providers will ask you to do your normal activities while you wear the pouch. This will help make sure it is in the best place.
What will happen during surgery? - A standard urostomy uses part of the small intestine called the ileum. Your surgeon will cut a small piece from the ileum and attach the end to the large intestine. The ureters are removed from the bladder. Ureters are tubes that bring urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Your surgeon will attach the ureters to the small part of the ileum. He will then guide the ileum through your abdomen to make the stoma. He will close the other end to create a pocket inside your body to hold your urine. This type of urostomy is permanent. You will wear the pouch at all times.
- A continent urinary reservoir creates a pouch inside your body. The pouch has valves that prevent urine from flowing back up into your kidneys. Another valve keeps urine in the pouch until you empty it. You will drain the pouch through a catheter (thin tube) about 4 or 5 times each day. Your healthcare providers will teach you how to drain the pouch.
What should I expect after surgery? You may need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days after surgery. - You may be given pain medicine for a few days after surgery. You may also be given antibiotics to prevent or fight an infection.
- You will be given clear liquids after surgery. If your stomach does not become upset, you may start to get soft foods. You will then be able to start eating your regular foods.
- You will meet with a urostomy or stoma care specialist while you are in the hospital. You will be shown how to care for the stoma and the skin around it. You will also learn how to empty the pouch and how to use a night drainage system while you sleep. You may need to measure your urine at home every time you empty it.
- You may see some mucus in the pouch along with your urine if you have a standard urostomy. This is normal.
- Walk around after surgery as soon as your healthcare provider says it is okay. This will help your bowels work well after surgery and prevent blood clots.
What are the risks of urostomy creation? Scar tissue may form in your abdomen and cause a bowel blockage. You may have trouble controlling urine. You may have bowel movements more often than before surgery, or you may have diarrhea. Bacteria may get into the urostomy and cause a urinary tract infection. |