Vesicostomy

What is a vesicostomy?

A vesicostomy (say: vess-i-COSS-tom-ee) is an operation that makes an opening from the bladder to the outside of your child's body. This opening is in the abdomen (belly), just below the navel (belly button).

Vesicostomy

A vesicostomy is an operation that makes an opening from the bladder to the abdomen just below the belly button. This opening lets urine drain from the bladder.

The opening lets urine drain out and prevents urine from being trapped inside the bladder. If urine is trapped in the bladder, it can back up to the kidneys and cause damage. Trapped urine may also cause infections.

Vesicostomies are usually performed on babies and very young children. A vesicostomy is usually temporary. Later, your child's doctor will decide on a more permanent solution to drain urine from your child's bladder.

The surgery takes about 1 hour

After the surgery, your child will spend 1 or 2 hours in the hospital’s recovery room. After that, your child will return to the hospital’s Urology Unit.

A child will usually stay in hospital for 2 or 3 days after surgery.

Managing your child’s pain

At first, your child will receive pain medication, usually morphine, through an intravenous (IV) line. As your child recovers, he will take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or codeine by mouth to manage the pain. By the time your child goes home, he should not need pain medication any more.

After the operation

Your child will have an intravenous line (IV). An IV is a thin tube that lets us give liquids and medicines directly into your child's veins. Your child will have the IV in place until he is drinking well.

Your child may have a small amount of bleeding at the place where the cut was made.

Dilating the stoma

The opening on your child's belly is called the stoma. It usually needs to be dilated (stretched) each day, sometimes several times a day. The dilation stretches the skin around the stoma. This makes sure that it stays open enough for urine to drain out. Dilations are done with a catheter.

Your child's nurse will teach you how to do these dilations. Your doctor will let you know how often they need to be done at home and for how long.

Your child’s skin

You will need to pay special attention to the condition of your child's skin after surgery. The nurse will show you how to diaper your child. This will make sure the urine is absorbed and your child's clothing is protected. Once you are home, your child can have a bath as usual.

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