After having Radical Cystectomy, where the bladder is removed, it is necessary to have a mean of collecting the urine from the stoma that was created; the urine containing body waste must be brought to the out side, the stoma, and disposed of. If we did not ware a Urostomy pouch, we would have wet pants all day long and be leaving puddles on the floor.
What is a Urostomy pouch?
- image from Hollister website
A Urostomy pouch is a manufactured plastic bag, think of a zip lock bag with a special emptying spout, which is glued to the abdominal wall. The stoma is protruding into the bag through a special opening and is constantly squirting urine from the kidneys into the bag.
Under normal conditions, we have the sensation of needing to empty our bladders. Our bodies tell us. After radical Cystectomy, this sensation is gone. The kidneys send urine through the urethra to the stoma any old time it wishes. Without pouch in place, the body can produce a stream of urine 2 to 3 feet out the stoma. Remember when you were changing a wet diaper on your son and you had him all cleaned up ready for a new one and he lets her go 2 to 3 feet into the air. Same thing.
What I am going to discuss here is Urostomy pouches and care when a stoma is created from the ileal conduit during the Radical Cystectomy. Later I will discuss artificial bladders and other methods of transferring the urine to the outside.
In every case, the stoma (these pictures may be disturbing to some) and the skin underneath the pouch must be kept scrumptiously clean. If you do not, you will soon end up with a skin infection caused by bacteria or yeast. If untreated, this infection could travel up through the urethra and cause a very painful kidney infection. This you do not want.
All you need is good old soap and water to keep the stoma and surrounding skin clean. DO NOT use soaps containing perfumes or lotions. This can interfere with the pouch adhering to the skin since a layer of chemicals will be deposited on the surface of the skin by the lotions and or by the perfume. I personally find that good old Ivory soap to be the best for me.
Our Mothers always told us that cleanliness was next to Godliness. In caring for your stoma and the surrounding skin this statement is 100% true.
Most kidney infections in stoma patients can be traced back to very poor hygiene around the stoma and keeping the same pouch on too long. It is recommended that the pouch be changed every THREE days. A Urostomy pouch produces a wonderful environment for the growth of bacteria. Even though the new pouches today are constructed with baffles and or one-way valves to prevent the discharged urine from seeping back around the stoma, it can still happen especially at night and set up a rip roaring infection. Ask any Urostomy patient and they will tell you that their biggest fear is infection around the stoma. Once you have your first one, you certainly will not want a second and will do anything possible to prevent it from happening again.
My two best friends in preventing infection are
- Triple antibiotic - over the counter
- And
- Monistat 7 - (for vaginal yeast infections) - over the counter - get over it Men, you lost your dignity when this surgery was completed. The sooner you except this the better off you will be.
Summer time when the temperature and humidity are up produces the best environment for the growth of yeast. Your stoma and pouch being in the groin area which is normally a hot area any way and add an outside temperature in the 80’s and 90’s with humidity and yeast are in heaven. Ask any Woman.
You will be bombarded daily with possibilities of infection but with reasonable care on your part, it can be kept under control. I personally have not had a bacterial infection around my stoma and surrounding skin in 8 years. Nor a kidney infection. However, in the summer time, I have had a few yeast infections.
The next two or three posts will deal with the Urostomy pouch. I will keep them in order.
In one of the posts, I will give a list of the major manufacturers of Urostomy supplies.
Posted on April 11th, 2008 by Neil
Filed under: Bladder Cancer - Background, My Cancer, Urostomy Pouches
[…] In part 1, I showed you a picture of a typical Urostomy pouch. They are just a plastic bag with an emptying spout at the bottom and on one side is the barrier and glue to over the stoma on your abdomen. This is a simplified explanation do not be concerned about the internal structure right now. […]
[…] Urostomy Pouch - Part 1 of 3 […]
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