How To Empty A Urostomy Bag？

2025-10-22
Author: Zodelo Ostomy

The Urostomy bag can be said to be an indispensable companion for the urostomy patient. It can help collect urine and enable patients to return to a normal life. Therefore, it is very important to understand how to empty a urostomy bag.

Incorrect discharge and replacement operations may lead to leakage, discomfort and even skin damage. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how to empty a urostomy bag, not only for the patients themselves, but also for their families.

Zodelo’s attitude: We not only provide the highest quality and most considerate ostomy products and ostomy care, but also offer the most reliable ostomy information and popular science. This article will introduce to you in detail how to empty a urostomy bag.

About Your Urostomy

1.What is a urostomy (ileal conduit)?

Urostomy, also known as Ileal Conduit. Urostomy is a surgical procedure that involves draining urine to an abdominal opening and then discharging it into a urostomy bag. When a patient is unable to store or excrete urine normally through the bladder due to their own illness or external trauma. The doctor will take a section of the ileum. The two sections are respectively connected to the urinary system and the abdominal skin to form a new urine outlet. Then the urine can be discharged into the urostomy bag through the stoma.

2.Why is a urostomy necessary?

The common reasons for urostomy are as follows:

Bladder or urethral tumors: When a patient’s bladder or urethra develops a tumor or cancer, especially invasive bladder cancer. The diseased area needs to be removed, so urostomy surgery is required.
Severe bladder dysfunction: when neurogenic bladder causes urine to be unable to be stored and excreted normally, urostomy surgery is required to replace the original urine discharge.
Radiation injury:When the bladder shrinks and fibroses after pelvic radiotherapy, resulting in urinary tract fistula and repeated severe stenosis that cannot be repaired, urostomy surgery is required.
Congenital urinary tract malformations:Congenital ureteral malformations and other urination disorders that require surgical intervention to restore normal urination function.
When there is a problem with kidney function:When hydronephrosis occurs or kidney function declines, urostomy surgery is required for protection.

About Your Urostomy Pouching (Bag) System

1. What is urostomy pouching (bag) system?

The urostomy bag system is a medical device specially designed for urostomy patients to collect urine. After the patient undergoes urostomy surgery, urine will continue to be discharged from the stoma. The Urostomy bag system can receive the excreted urine. The Urostomy pouch can protect the skin around the stoma from continuous contamination and irritation by urine. At the same time, it avoids leakage and odor problems.

2.The composition of the Urostomy pouching (bag) system.

Skin barrier/wafer: Usually made of hydrocolloid, it is used to adhere to the skin around the stoma to fix the urostomy bag. It is usually divided into flat skin barrier and convex skin barrier. It has the functions of protecting the skin and adhering to it to prevent leakage.
Bag body:Usually made of transparent or opaque waterproof and leak-proof material, it is used to collect urine discharged from the stoma. A discharge valve is provided at the bottom for discharging urine. Most urostomy bags are equipped with anti-backflow devices, which can effectively reduce the risk of infection caused by urine backflow.
Discharge valves:They usually come in various forms such as plug type, flip cover type, and push-pull type. Used for discharging urine from the bag. It has the functions of easy cleaning, leak-proof and one-handed operation.

3. Types of urostomy bags:

a. One piece urostomy bag:

The chassis or skin barrier of the One piece urostomy bag is integrated with the urostomy bag body and can be replaced as a whole. It is simpler and faster to replace, cleaner and more hygienic, and also thinner, invisible and more comfortable. It is suitable for patients with high activity levels, good skin condition, daytime commuters or those in the early stage of stoma.

b. Two piece urostomy bag:

The chassis or skin barrier of the Two piece urostomy bag is separated from the urostomy bag body, and the two are linked by mechanical clips or adhesive rings. The Skin barrier can be adhered to the skin for recycling, and the urostomy bag body can be replaced independently. The Two piece urostomy bag can reduce the irritation to the skin caused by frequent tearing. The bag body can be directly replaced, which is more convenient and faster. When replacing temporarily, there is no need to re-stick the base. It is suitable for patients with large urine output, frequent urination or sensitive skin.

c.Daily use urostomy bag

The daily urostomy bag usually has a capacity of 400 to 600 milliliters, is light, thin and invisible, flexible and convenient, and is easy to use for daily outdoor activities. It is usually equipped with a check valve and a bottom discharge valve, which facilitates the discharge of urine and prevents urine backflow.

d. Night drainage system

The Night drainage system usually has a larger capacity of 2000 milliliters. It is composed of a Night extension pipe and a large-capacity Night drainage for night use. It is suitable for use before going to bed at night or when one cannot excrete for a long time, and can help patients reduce the frequency of getting up at night. The Night drainage system is equipped with an anti-backflow system, which can effectively reduce the risk of infection caused by urine backflow.

e. Leg drainage bag

The Leg drainage bag is usually tied around the lower leg or thigh, with elastic straps and quick-release interfaces, and is highly concealed inside the trousers. The drainage is smoother when standing or walking, making it suitable for situations where one needs to stand, walk or drive for a long time.

How To Empty A Urostomy Bag？

1. empty a urostomy bag required items

Clean and soft tissues: used to wipe the outlet to keep it clean and dry
Warm water or wet wipes: Used to wipe the bottom of the urostomy bag or residual urine on the skin. Be careful not to use cleaning products containing alcohol or fragrance to avoid irritating the skin
Potty, toilet bowl or urinal: used to receive urine discharged from the urostomy bag. Be careful to avoid splashing.
Hand sanitizer or disinfectant: Wash your hands before and after emptying to maintain hygiene

2. Guide to how empty a urostomy bag

Step 1: Clean your hands

After getting all the necessary items ready, wash your hands thoroughly.

Step 2: Prepare the collection container and change the scene

Choose a clean drainage area, such as above the toilet or potty.

If the patient is bedridden, a urinal pot or a potty can be chosen.

Step 3: Open the outlet to empty the urine

Align the drain outlet with the edge of the toilet, gently open the valve and let the urine flow out slowly.

Avoid excessive squeezing of the urostomy bag to prevent urine from splashing.

If there are mucus filamentous substances in the urine, it is secreted by the small intestinal mucosa and is a normal phenomenon.

Step 4: Wipe and seal

After the discharge is complete, wipe the discharge outlet clean with a damp cloth or toilet paper, or rinse it with a small amount of warm water and then dry it with toilet paper.

Step 5: Close the discharge outlet

Close the discharge port and check if it is completely closed, and whether there is any leakage or dripping. Avoid leakage or odor leakage.

Step 6: Check and wash your hands

Check whether the stoma is dry and whether the urine is discharged smoothly. Throw away the used tissues and clean your hands.

3. How often should I empty a urostomy bag?

When the capacity of the urostomy bag one-third or half, it needs to be emptied in time. Otherwise, if there is too much urine in the urostomy bag, it may cause the bag to be too heavy and pull on the skin, and even lead to leakage and odor problems.
When used during the day, it is recommended to check and empty the urinary urostomy bag every 2 to 4 hours.
You can empty your bowels once before going to bed at night. Or connect a night drainage urostomy bag to maintain continuous urination, and there will be no need to get up frequently at night to empty.
When going out for a long time, you can empty the urinary urostomy bag to avoid the inconvenience of emptying it outside or the inability to empty it for a long time, which may cause leakage.
When the urostomy bag swells, it should be emptied in time to prevent leakage.
After drinking too much liquid, the amount of urine will also continue to increase, and the frequency of emptying needs to be increased.
When the urine contains a large amount of mucus, it needs to be emptied in time to avoid urine backflow due to blockage of the discharge outlet.

Changing Your Urostomy Bag System

It’s not enough to just know how to empty a urostomy bag; you also need to learn how to change a urostomy bag.

1. Step-by-Step guide to change a urostomy bag

Prepare the required items: a new urostomy bag system, warm water and wet wipes, stoma measurement cards, stoma scissors, sealing rings or sealing pastes, stoma supplies, etc.
Wash your hands and keep them clean.
Gently remove the old urostomy bag and clean the skin around the stoma with warm water and a wet wipe.
Examine the stoma and the surrounding skin: The color should be bright red and moist, without secretions, swelling or ulceration.
Clean the skin around the stoma with warm water, and be careful to avoid using cleaning products containing alcohol or fragrance.
Measure the diameter of the stoma and cut an opening on the base that is 1 to 2 mm larger than the stoma.
You can choose to use a skin protective film to form a protective layer.
After the skin at the stoma site dries, apply a new urostomy pouch. Gently press it to make it fully adhere to the skin and avoid leakage.
Close the bottom discharge port or connect the night drainage bag;
Finally, check whether it is firmly adhered and whether the liquid drainage is smooth.
Discard used wet wipes and old urostomy bags and wash your hands.

2. Is changing or emptying the urostomy pouch difficult?

It’s not difficult. For beginners in ostomy, it might be a bit complicated. But after long-term operation practice, most people can skillfully change or empty the urostomy bag.

However, it should be noted that needs to choose the most suitable stoma system for oneself, and at the same time master the correct steps and methods for replacement and emptying. Only in this way can we better protect the health of the stoma and live a more confident and comfortable life.

Living With A Urostomy Bag

1. Showering with your stoma

Stoma patients can take normal baths and can choose to wear or not wear the urostomy bag when bathing.

When taking a bath with a urostomy bag on:Make sure there is a good seal between the bottom of the urostomy bag and your skin to prevent water from seeping into the urinary tract and causing infection.
When taking a bath without wearing the urostomy bag:You can gently rinse the stoma with warm water. Be careful not to use excessive water pressure or temperature to rinse the stoma to prevent damage to it. Be careful to avoid using body washes, soaps and other cleaning products containing fragrances or other chemicals to clean the stoma.
After cleaning, it is necessary to wait for the skin at the stoma to dry before using the urostomy bag to prevent water stains around the stoma from causing poor adhesion and leakage.

2. Working and Socializing with a urostomy bag

It is recommended to check and empty the urostomy bag every 2 to 4 hours in the workplace.
When attending long meetings or on business trips, it is necessary to use large-capacity or night-time urostomy bag.
Prepare spare urostomy bags and stoma accessories in the office.
When choosing clothes, try to pick loose, soft and breathable ones to avoid the air holes being too stuffy.

3. Traveling after a urostomy

Before traveling: Prepare sufficient urostomy bags and stoma care products. You can carry some of the urostomy bags with you and put some in your suitcase.
You can apply for TSA or show your Medical Card when going through airport security.
It is necessary to empty and replace in time during the trip. When the urine in the urostomy bag reaches one-third or half, it should be emptied immediately.
When outdoors, you can use deodorizing products in combination to avoid the embarrassing problem of unpleasant odors.
When changing the urostomy bag, use some leak-proof urostomy bag accessories in combination, such as leak-proof rings and leak-proof paste, to enhance the firmness and sealing of the skin barrier, avoid leakage and odor during the journey, and prevent the problem of being unable to clean and replace in time.

4. Swimming with a urostomy bag

Urostomy patients can swim completely, but they need to maintain a good seal between the skin and the undercarriage.
Before swimming, empty the urostomy bag to prevent it from being too heavy and causing leakage.
Leak-proof rings, leak-proof pastes, etc. can be used to enhance the adhesion and sealing performance with the skin and reduce leakage.
Seawater and pool disinfectants may irritate the skin, so it is necessary to wash in time after swimming and keep the area around the stoma dry.

Caring For The Stoma And Surrounding Skin

A normal and healthy stoma should be bright red or pink in color and moist on the surface. The shapes are mostly round or oval.

1. How to caring for the stoma and surrounding skin

In terms of cleaning

Each time you change the urostomy bag, gently clean the skin around the stoma with warm water and a wet wipe.

Avoid using cleaning products containing alcohol or fragrance, as they may irritate the skin.

After cleaning, be sure to wait until the skin around the stoma is dry before pasting to prevent water stains around the stoma from causing poor pasting and leakage.

Stoma powder can be used to care for the skin around the stoma.

Nursing aspect:

When changing the urostomy bag, you can use a leak-proof ring or leak-proof ointment to better adhere to the skin and prevent leakage.

You can use the Night drainage system before going to bed to reduce the frequency of getting up at night.

Drinking plenty of water daily helps dilute urine, reducing the risk of sedimentation and infection.

In terms of clothing:

In daily life, you can choose loose, light, soft and breathable clothes. Avoid squeezing the stoma or making the skin at the stoma overly hot.

2. Problems caused by your urostomy

Common problems with urinary tract stoma include the following situations:

Problem	Symptoms	Possible reasons	ow to handle
Skin irritation	Redness, swelling, pain, erosion and itching	Urine leakage, poor underbody fit, and frequent replacement	Remeasure the stoma size and use a leak-proof ring or leak-proof paste
Stoma bleeding	Slight punctate bleeding	Rub the stoma surface when cleaning or replacing	If bleeding persists, you should contact a doctor in time
The urine has an unpleasant smell or is cloudy	The urine is white, turbid and has a foul smell	Urinary tract infection, insufficient water intake, and poor drainage	Increase water intake and keep the pipelines unobstructed. Seek medical attention if accompanied by fever
Stoma retraction	The stoma is submerged below the skin surface	Weight changes and postoperative tissue pulling	Use convex wafer
Stoma protrusion	The stoma tissue extends outward	Increased abdominal pressure	If the protrusion is severe, medical attention should be sought promptly
Crystalline deposition	There are white or yellow crystals at the stoma	Alkalization of urine and insufficient water intake	Drink plenty of water

When To Contact A Doctor

When the following situations occur, medical attention should be sought promptly to prevent the condition from worsening or causing a series of complications:
Severe abdominal pain accompanied by the absence of feces may indicate intestinal obstruction.
If the color of the stomata turns purple, black or white, it may indicate insufficient blood supply or stoma necrosis.
Severe abdominal pain without passing feces may indicate intestinal obstruction.
Cloudy urine or urine containing a large amount of crystals may indicate infection.
The skin at the stoma site is painful, itchy and ulcerated, and there may be skin infection problems.
Persistent bleeding from the stoma or purulent and foul-smelling secretions
The fever exceeds 38℃, and there is redness, swelling and pus around the mouth.

How To Order And Store The Ostomy Supplies

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Conclusion — How To Empty A Urostomy Bag？

Learning how to empty a urostomy bag is not difficult. After mastering the correct operation steps of empty a urostomy bag, one can proficiently and quickly empty a urostomy bag. It is the beginning of confidence and a comfortable life, and also the first step to making the body healthier.

The value of Zodelo: It not only offers a variety of ostomy products, but also provides professional ostomy information and emotional care, accompanying users through the adaptation stage. Welcome to follow Zodelo to get more stoma care guidelines and support for stoma product selection.