A urostomy is a stoma that drains urine from the urinary tract… uro (urine) – ostomy (stoma).

The most common urostomy performed is called an ileal conduit, where a segment of small bowel (ileum) is used to create a channel (conduit) that is blinded on one end inside the abdomen, while the other end of the conduit is brought out onto the abdomen as the stoma. The ureters, two tiny tubes that normally drain urine from the kidneys into the urinary bladder, are then re-attached into this conduit, allowing urine to drain through the conduit and out of the stoma. Most people who have an ileal conduit have had their bladder removed (cystectomy) as part of the surgical procedure.

The ileal conduit is usually situated on the right side of the abdomen. The pouch used will have a tap or plug at the bottom allowing the pouch to be emptied regularly.