Urinary diversion is a solution to any urological problem that prevents the passage of urine in the ordinary way. It is basically a rerouting of the urinal path through surgery.Ordinarily urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through the ureter. It is stored in the bladder until the individual lets it out by urinating. The tube that drains urine out of the bladder is called the urethra. Sometimes the bladder can no longer function as a storage for urine or it has to be removed. This is common when a patient has cancer of the bladder or has suffered serious injury to the bladder. Urine flow is rerouted to follow another path out. Sometimes the procedure may be performed to provide temporary relief while in other instances it is permanent.

Types of Urinary Diversions

1. Continent Diversion

A continent urinary diversion is created by making a urine reservoir from parts of the bowel, mostly the small intestine. A surgeon can choose to attach the ureters and the urethra to the new reservoir, placing it in the position of the bladder that has been removed. That reservoir is referred to as a neobladder or a continent urinary diversion. A patient who has a neobladder is able to pass urine the normal way.

The alternative for a neobladder is creating a stoma as an outlet for the reservoir. A patient has to connect a catheter to drain urine from the stoma a number of times a day. This form of reservoir is also referred to as a continent catheterizable diversion.

2. Incontinent or Non-continent Diversion

An incontinent diversion connects the ureters that drain urine out of the kidney into an opening of the abdominal wall. The patient then is required to wear an ostomy bag into which the ureters drain the urine.

Performing a urinary diversion is a precise procedure and its complexity depends on the reasons why it is performed. A patient requires strict medical attention both before and after undergoing the procedure. Even after one has recovered, the advice of a urologist is necessary in the management of the various forms of diversions. A patient should insist on receiving the attention of a specially trained urologist if they require a urinary diversion. St. Pete Urology over the years has developed an outstanding staff of specialists in the area and it is a good place to start. For more information, visit the St Pete Urology website.