Not all ostomy surgeries have the same goal. With urostomies, the stoma is designed to divert and assist with draining urine from the abdominal wall. 

Patients may be directed to a urostomy if their bladder no longer optimally functions or needs to be removed. This can be the case if you’re living with a spinal cord injury or a birth defect like spinal bifida, or are undergoing treatment for bladder cancer. 

In recovery and going forward, patients use a urostomy pouch to monitor and manage output. Just as with all ostomy pouches, these systems have a one- or two-piece design.

What is a One-Piece Urostomy Pouch?

Urostomy pouches are a type of ostomy system designed to exclusively collect and dispose of urine following this surgical procedure. 

Urostomy pouches, in general, safeguard against leaks, help control odors and protect the peristomal skin. With a barrier pre-attached to the pouch, one-piece urostomy systems are directly secured to the stoma and are fully detached during changes. Based on output and pouch type, you may find yourself changing the system daily to once per week. A chambered design may offer a more discreet experience. 

In use, you’ll empty the one-piece urostomy pouch once it’s one-third to one-half full. At night, expect to connect an adapter to the pouch to divert the contents to a drainable collector. 

Features of a One-Piece Urostomy Pouch

One-piece urostomy pouches typically include:

• An attached barrier plate or wafer with adhesive backing.
• A hole that fits directly over the stoma. The hole may be pre-cut or can be cut-to-fit.
• A tap or opening that empties the contents, in the case of drainable urostomy pouches. This feature may be a cap, plug or twist valve, and will be accompanied by an anti-reflux valve.