After surgery to remove your bladder (radical cystectomy), a new
system is developed to store and pass urine. Your surgeon may create a
noncontinent diversion (also called an ileal conduit) in which a segment of
your
intestine is removed and transformed into a urinary
channel, or conduit. The conduit connects on one end to your
ureters and on the other end to a new surgically
created opening (stoma) in the wall of your abdomen. This procedure is called a
urostomy.
After a urostomy, the urine passes from the ureters through the
conduit and out the opening into a plastic bag that is attached to your skin.
You will empty the bag 3 or 4 times a day, and a larger bag that allows for
longer storage can be worn overnight.