Last updated: 02/17/2009

Urostomy is the generic name for any surgical procedure that diverts the passage of urine by re-directing the ureters (fibromuscular tubes that carry the urine from the kidney to the bladder). There are two basic types of urostomies. The first features...

the creation of a passage called an "ileal conduit." In this procedure, the ureters are detached from the bladder and joined to a short length of the small intestine (ileum). The other type of urostomy is cutaneous ureterostomy. With this technique, the surgeon detaches the ureters from the bladder and brings one or both to the surface of the abdomen. The hole created in the abdomen is called a stoma, a reddish, moist abdominal protrusion. The stoma is not painful; it has no sensation. Since it has no muscles to regulate urination, urine collects in a bag.

There are four common types of ureterostomies:

• Single ureterostomy. This procedure brings only one ureter to the surface of the abdomen.
• Bilateral ureterostomy. This procedure brings the two ureters to the surface of the abdomen, one on each side.
• Double-barrel ureterostomy. In this approach, both ureters are brought to the same side of the abdominal surface.
• Transuretero ureterostomy (TUU). This procedure brings both ureters to the same side of the abdomen, through the same stoma.