What does urostomy mean?
Urostomy is a surgical operation that creates an opening, called a stoma, through which urine can drain from the urinary tract. The stoma usually passes through the abdominal wall, and urine commonly flows into an external collection pouch, although other drainage arrangements are possible. A urostomy may be temporary, allowing the urinary tract to heal after surgery or injury, or permanent, providing long-term urinary diversion when the bladder cannot function normally or must be removed. In conversation, a person may say that they “have a urostomy” to mean that they have undergone the operation. Although urostomy can sound unfamiliar, it is an established and precisely descriptive medical term that enables people to discuss urinary care accurately and without euphemism.
nounA surgical operation that creates an opening, or stoma, in the urinary tract so that urine can drain from the body. The opening usually passes through the abdominal wall and may drain into an external pouch or another collection system.
- A surgical operation in which an opening is made in the urinary tract to allow urine to leave the body, usually through the abdominal wall into a collection pouch.
"Following surgery to remove his bladder, he adjusted to life with a urostomy."
"Following surgery to remove his bladder, he adjusted to life with a urostomy."
"Her urologist explained that the urostomy could be temporary while her urinary tract healed."
The standard plural is used when referring to more than one urostomy procedure.
"The surgeons performed two urostomies during the complex operation."
When the urinary system needs a new exit, a urostomy creates one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does urostomy come from?
The word combines the Greek ouron, meaning “urine,” with -ostomy, a combining form built from Greek stoma, meaning “mouth” or opening. Together, these elements describe the creation of an opening for the passage of urine. Related English medical terms, including colostomy, gastrostomy, and tracheostomy, were similarly formed by adding -ostomy to words identifying the part of the body involved.
Related word forms
How urostomy is actually used
This is a specialized medical term used principally by healthcare professionals and in discussions of surgery and urinary diversions. It is used in both British and American English and carries no inherent stigma.
Easily confused with urostomy
A ureterostomy specifically creates an opening from a ureter to the body surface, whereas urostomy is the broader term for any surgical urinary opening.
A cystostomy creates an opening into the urinary bladder, while urostomy may involve a different part of the urinary tract and may be used to divert urine around the bladder.