Urinary Stomas

Life with urostomy

The quality of life of urostomy patients was assessed by direct interview. Specific problems, such as urine leakage, were documented and the size, site and quality of the stoma were assessed. The study included 41 patients; 83% noted an improvement in the quality of life since their urinary diversion and 90% were still able to work or continue to perform household duties. Urine leakage was the commonest problem and this was unrelated to the length of the stoma or the build of the patient. More important factors were the correct siting of the stoma and the avoidance of parastomal herniation. All patients emphasised the importance of the stoma therapist.

Local status of the urinary stoma--the relation to peristomal skin complications

Sixty-six patients with uretero-ileostomy were investigated with special regards to local status of the urinary stoma, i.e. stomal site, length, size/shape, and peristomal skin. Each variable was defined. In reports from other centres there has been a lack of definitions making it difficult to compare results from different studies. One fifth of our patients had inadequately located stomas and 85% had stomas shorter than 1 cm. The peristomal skin status was assessed according to CPS, Classification of Peristomal Skin. Eight per cent of the patients exhibited severe erythematous/erosive lesions and one fifth pseudoverrucose lesions. The relation between skin lesions and local status of the urinary stoma was analyzed. Patients with inadequately located stomas were more likely to show severe erythematous/erosive lesions and there was a tendency towards patients with stomas shorter than 1 cm, more frequently exhibiting pseudoverrucose lesions.