HOW DO
UROTOMIES WORK?
To create the urostomy, the Surgeon 'borrows' a section of the
small bowel and uses it to form a tube that diverts urine
straight from the ureters to the surface of the skin. This tube
opens onto the surface as a stoma. Over the stoma a watertight
pouch is fitted to collect the urine. This is simply emptied
whenever convenient.
Since the tube is usually made from a section of the ileum (the
lowest part of the small bowel), it is called an 'ileal
conduit'.
Alternatively, a short piece of the large bowel (or colon) may
be used to form the 'drain' and stoma-this is called a 'colonic
conduit'.
Once either piece of bowel has been borrowed, the bowel is
repaired so that bowel function continues as before.
It's a very simple idea, using one healthy part of the body to
replace another less healthy part. And it works! |
 |
