UOAA Discussion Board

Hello everyone I'am new to the site I have a spinal cord injury and I have a Mitrofanoff which i have a 20f foley catherter that stays in my stoma because I wasn't able to do the intermentent cathing and I keep infections all the time, have alot of problems out of this. So my urologist suggested me to have a ILEAL CONDUIT and Id like to know all kinds of info about this surgery before I decide on what to do.

1. Do you get recurring infections ?
2. How hard is it to take care of ?
3. How long is the recovery ?
4. What kind of Doctor takes care of this after surgery ?
5. What kind of complications can you have ?
6. What all do you have to have to manage it ?

anybody with info Id greatly appericate it

Hi Jennifer,

I'll jump in first, though I don't have a urostomy but an ileostomy. Still, I wear a pouch as you would do with a urostomy, so there are some similarities.

It might be most helpful to read the "Urostomy Guide" booklet that you can find at this link: http://www.ostomy.org/ostomy_info/#urostomy - it will tell you something about how it is constructed and how to manage it afterward. Is your mobility affected so that you are using a wheelchair now? Those I know who use wheelchairs and have a urostomy are quite happy they don't have to transfer - but you are avoiding that already with the Mitrofanoff.

To try answering your specific questions:
1. Do you get recurring infections ? There should be fewer as the urine is continuously flowing out instead of sitting in your bladder.

2. How hard is it to take care of ? Depends quite a bit on your manual dexterity. Pouches and the skin-side wafers (the part that sticks to your skin) are not generally difficult to work with.

3. How long is the recovery ? A good question for your surgeon - has he talked about doing this as a 'keyhole' surgery, in which case recovery can be a lot faster? Have you had problems recovering from other operations?

4. What kind of Doctor takes care of this after surgery ? Same as you have now, I'd think.

5. What kind of complications can you have ? In borrowing a short piece of bowel to form the conduit - and then reconnecting the two ends of the small intestine back together - I guess there is some very small chance of a stricture forming at that junction. I can't say I have ever heard anyone talk about this kind of problem, though.

6. What all do you have to have to manage it ? Wear a collection pouch at all times, keep well-hydrated so the urine is always flowing. On page 6 of the booklet you can see diagrams of the pouch, and the 'spigot' used to drain urine regularly. This can be hooked to a tube for continuous emptying into a leg bag or other container, especially at night when you don't want to be getting up to empty.

Hope this helps - and hope that you will stick around with us now you have found this site.
Linda