Ostomy vs. Urostomy: What’s the Difference?

In the medical world, there are a lot of terms that can confuse people, even the patients those terms apply to. What can make this confusion even worse is when the terms sound similar. A perfect example of a pair of terms people often mistake for each other is ostomy and urostomy. You might have heard your doctor use these terms interchangeably without realizing that there’s a difference between them. If you aren’t sure what makes an ostomy different from a urostomy, we’re here to help clear up the confusion.

What’s a Urostomy?

If you’ve been having major issues involving your bladder, there’s a chance you might need a urostomy to help you deal with the problem. This procedure involves directing your ureters away from the bladder and out through a newly created stoma. You will then have a urology bag attached to the stoma to collect your urine.

If the bladder can heal, your urostomy will only be temporary. In other cases, surgeons will remove the bladder. When this happens, your urostomy will become permanent but still very manageable.

How Is the Term Ostomy Related?

So how does all of this relate to the term ostomy? Well, ostomy is the umbrella term for all these types of procedures. On top of urostomies, there are also colostomies and ileostomies. These procedures reroute the large and small intestines, respectively. Even though these come from different parts of your digestive tract, they all function similarly and can either be temporary or permanent.

What Else Should You Know About These Terms?

Now that you know the key difference between ostomies and urostomies, there are a few other details you should know about, particularly when it comes to the supplies you need for them. Since all forms of ostomies are similar in functionality, most use the same types of stoma supplies. Most barrier rings, ostomy creams, and other supplies are universal.

However, this isn’t the case for ostomy pouches. Since each type of stoma outputs from a different part of your body, the size and consistency of the by-product will vary. When shopping for an ostomy bag for yourself, you’ll need to make sure it suits urology uses only. Purchasing the wrong kind will make using this product much more difficult. As long as you pay attention to that detail, you shouldn’t have any issues when picking out an ostomy bag.