When the bladder is removed, the patient needs a new way to store and pass urine. Various methods can be used for this. In a common method, the surgeon uses a piece of the person's small bowel to form a new tube through which urine can pass. The ureters are attached to one end, and the other end is brought out through an opening in the abdominal wall.

 

This new opening is called a urostomy, and is used for the elimination of urine from the body. The stoma is red and moist; there are no nerve endings in the stoma and therefore no sensation.

A special urostomy stoma appliance will receive urine on an on-going basis.