Urostomy Care

A urostomy is a urinary diversion that carries urine through an abdominal stoma into an external pouch. The most common incontinent diversion is an ileal conduit. The surgeon isolates a short segment of ileum, connects the ureters to that segment, and brings the far end through the abdominal wall as the stoma. Urine drains continuously because the conduit does not function as a bladder. The bowel segment still behaves partly like bowel tissue. It produces mucus, so stringy white or cloudy mucus in the pouch is often expected. Mucus alone does not diagnose infection. The nurse instead looks for a change in the whole clinical picture: fever, flank pain, malaise, reduced output, hematuria, or a significant new odor. A pouching system has two essential jobs: collect urine without backflow or leakage and protect the peristomal skin from constant urine exposure. Even a small leak can quickly damage skin because urine stays in contact with it.