Changing your urostomy pouch
Urostomy pouches are special bags that are used to collect urine after bladder surgery. The pouch attaches to the skin around your stoma, the hole that urine drains from. Another name for a pouch or bag is appliance.
You will need to change your urostomy pouch often.
When to Change the Pouch
Most urostomy pouches need to be changed 1 - 2 times a week. It is important to follow a schedule for changing your pouch. Do not wait until it leaks because urine leaks can harm your skin.
You may need to change your pouch more often:
- During the summer
- If you live in a warm, humid area
- If you have scars or oily skin around your stoma
- If you play sports or are very active
Always change your pouch if there are signs that it is leaking. Some of these signs are itching, burning, or changes in the appearance of the stoma or the skin around it.
Changing Your Pouch
Always have a clean pouch on hand. Using a clean pouch will help prevent infections in your urinary system.
You can decide whether it is easier to sit, stand, or lie down when you change your pouch. Choose a position that allows you to see your stoma well.
Urine may dribble from your open stoma when you change the pouch. You can stand over a toilet or use rolled up gauze or paper towels below your stoma to absorb the urine.
When you remove the old pouch, push down on your skin to loosen it. Do not pull the pouch off your skin. Before you put the new pouch in place:
- Check for changes in how your skin and stoma look.
- Clean the area clean and care for your stoma and the skin around it.
- Put the used pouch in a Ziploc bag and throw it away in the regular trash.
When you put the new pouch in place:
- Carefully place the opening of the pouch over your stoma. Having a mirror in front of you may help you center the pouch correctly.
- The pouch opening should be 1/8 inch larger than your stoma.
- Some pouches are comprised of two parts: the wafer or flange, which is a plastic ring that adheres to the skin around the stoma, and a separate pouch that attaches to the flange. With a two piece system, the separate parts can be changed at different intervals.
Alternate Names
Urinary pouch; Urinary appliance
Update Date: 4/12/2012
Updated by: Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2012, A.D.A.M., Inc. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.
