How To Change A Urostomy Bag？

2025-10-23
Author: Zodelo Ostomy

The Urostom bag can be said to be an indispensable and important companion in the daily life of patients with urostomy. It can help collect and discharge urine, protecting the skin from urine contamination and irritation. Therefore, it is very important To know How To Change A Urostomy Bag.

Zodelo is well aware of the significance of the Urostomy Bag for patients with urostomy. Therefore, Zodelo has always been committed to providing users with the highest quality stoma supply and considerate ostomy care. In this article, we will introduce in detail how to change a urostomy bag.

What is urostomy?

urostomy is a surgical procedure that involves creating a stoma in the patient’s abdomen, also known as urinary diversion. When a patient is unable to store or discharge urine normally due to bladder or urethral diseases, establishing a new and controllable excretion route for urine is called a stoma. Urine is excreted from the body through the stoma and then placed in the urostomy bag for storage and discharge.

What is a urostomy bag?

A urostomy bag is a medical device specifically designed for collecting and storing urine excreted from a urostomy. It needs to be worn continuously at the abdominal stoma. When a patient loses the ability to urinate due to bladder disease or injury, they will undergo stoma surgery to create a stoma in the abdomen, and a urostomy bag will be used to collect the continuously excreted urine. Urostomy bags protect the skin from continuous contamination and irritation by urine. It has leak-proof and odor-proof functions to avoid embarrassment. At the same time, it can prevent urine reflux, reduce hydronephrosis and infection problems.

1.Types of urostomy bag

a. One piece urostomy bag

The base or skin barrier of the one piece urostomy bag is integrated with the bag body and can be replaced as a whole. As there is no connecting ring, it can better fit the shape of the abdomen, be softer and more comfortable, and be invisible and lightweight. It is suitable for beginners with inflexible hand operation and stoma.

b. Two piece urostomy bag

The base or skin barrier of the two piece urostomy bag is separated from the bag body and connected together through a mechanical coupling system. The skin barrier can adhere to the skin for reuse, and the bag body can be replaced independently. Two-piece urostomy bags can reduce skin irritation 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 capacity of a daily urine bag is usually 400 to 600 milliliters. It is light, thin and invisible, flexible and convenient, and easy to use in daily outdoor activities. It is usually equipped with a check valve and a bottom discharge valve to facilitate the discharge of urine and prevent its backflow.

d. Night drainage system

The Night drainage system usually has a large capacity. It consists of a night extension pipe and a large-capacity night drainage system for use at night. It is suitable for use before going to bed at night or when one cannot defecate 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-reflux system, which can effectively reduce the risk of infection caused by urine reflux.

2.Why is urostomy bag necessary?

When suffering from the following diseases, urostomy needs to be received, and urostomy bag should be used after the operation.

Bladder cancer: To cure bladder cancer completely, the entire bladder needs to be removed and urinary diversion must be performed.
Bladder or urethral tumors: When a patient has a tumor or cancer in the bladder or urethra, especially invasive bladder cancer. The diseased area needs to be removed, so urostomy surgery is required.
Neurogenic cystitis: It may cause severe urinary retention or incontinence and repeated infections. urostomy surgery is required to protect the kidneys and ensure normal urine excretion.
Radiation cystitis: After radiotherapy for pelvic malignant tumors, the bladder may suffer severe and irreversible damage, leading to severe pain, massive hematuria and bladder contracture. Cystectomy and urostomy are life-saving measures
Congenital malformations:Congenital ureteral malformations or ectropion of the bladder and other urinary disorders. Abnormal bladder development occurs at birth in the child, and a urostomy may be part of the reconstruction surgery.

How To Change A Urostomy Bag

1. Items required for change a urostomy bag

Warm water and wet wipes:Used for cleaning the skin at the stoma site, but be careful to avoid using wet wipes or cleaning products containing alcohol or fragrance.
New urostomy bag system: Choose the most suitable stoma system according to your own needs.
Ostomy scissors: The base needs to be cut according to the size of the stoma.
Sealing ring or sealant:Fills the gap between the skin and the chassis, enhances the adhesion and sealing performance, and reduces leakage.
Exfoliating agent: Gently and effectively removes residual colloid from the skin, keeping it clean.
Stoma toner powder: Helps keep the skin dry and clean, and reduces irritation.

2.Step-by-step guide on how to change a urostomy bag?

Step 1: Preparatory work

Clean your hands after getting all the necessary items ready.

Choose to operate in a warm, private, clean and bright environment.

Step 2: Remove the old urostomy bag

Adhesive remover can be used: spray it on the bonding area between the undercarriage and the skin to help peel off the undercarriage.

Press the skin with one hand and slowly tear the base off the skin from top to bottom with the other hand.

Step 3: Clean the skin around the stoma

Clean the skin stains and glue marks around the stoma with warm water and a wet wipe.

Gently pat the skin dry with a dry cotton soft towel or choose to use stoma powder to ensure that the area to be adhered is completely dry.

Step 4: Measure the diameter of the stoma

Measure the stoma with a measuring card to determine its diameter.

Step 5: Trim the skin barrier

Based on the measured diameter, the opening diameter of the cutting base needs to be increased by 1-2mm. Confirm that the cutting edges are smooth and flat.

Step 6: Paste the urostomy bag

Align the chassis opening precisely with the stoma, ensuring that the stoma is at the center. Gently press the entire skin barrier from bottom to top to make it firmly adhere to the skin.

Even pressing: Continuously press the skin barrier with the palm of your hand to utilize body temperature to make it blend perfectly with the skin.

Step 7: Inspection

Finally, check whether the skin barrier is fully attached, ensure that the drain valve at the bottom of the urostomy bag is closed, and whether the urine flows out smoothly.

Discard the old urostomy bag and used tissues, and clean your hands.

3.How often do you change a urostomy bag?

One piece urostomy bag: As the bag body and the chassis are integrated, it needs to be replaced as a whole when changing. It is recommended to change it every 1-2 days.

Two piece urostomy bag: The base can be adhered to the skin for multiple uses, and only the bag body needs to be replaced. It is recommended to replace it every 2 to 3 days.

If the environment is humid and hot with excessive sweating, it is recommended to shorten the replacement cycle.

4. When to change a urostomy bag

In addition to the regular replacement cycle, the urostomy bag must be replaced immediately when the following situations occur.

When leakage occurs:Once the urostomy bag shows signs of leakage and an unpleasant smell, it should be inspected and replaced immediately.
Persistent skin itching or a burning sensation:This is an early sign of slight urine leakage or skin irritation, and the urostomy bag needs to be replaced promptly.
The edges of the chassis are lifted or dissolved: The adhesive loses its sealing property, which may cause leakage. The urostomy bag needs to be replaced in time.
Skin problems around the stoma, such as redness, swelling, itching, rashes, blisters or pain, etc., require timely replacement of the urostomy bag and examination of the skin condition. If the condition persists and worsens, one should go to the hospital for treatment in time.

The skin around your stoma

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.

What happens after a urostomy?

In the early stage after urostomy surgery:

There may be pain and discomfort at the beginning. It is normal for the stoma to have mild edema and the urine to be light pink. A drainage tube and a catheterization stent are required. Patients need to learn how to change the urostomy bag. Patients may experience emotions such as anxiety, worry and embarrassment psychologically.

Mid-term after urostomy surgery:

The appearance of the stoma: The stoma gradually reduces swelling, appears bright red and moist, and there is no pain sensation. Urine may contain a small amount of mucus, which belongs to the intestinal mucosa and is a normal phenomenon. Stoma patients are gradually returning to work and daily activities and are gradually learning to change the urostomy bag. However, it is necessary to avoid weight-bearing and strenuous exercise to reduce the risk of incisional hernia.

Over a long period of time:

Under normal circumstances, the stoma remains bright red and moist, without any sensation. Patients can engage in moderate exercise and fitness, and travel freely. Stoma patients gradually ignore the existence of stoma and start to live a confident and free life.

What does having a stoma feel like?

Touch: The stoma feels soft, moist and warm when touched. Light touch may cause bleeding. If the skin around the stoma fits the urostomy bag well and is completely sealed, there will be no unpleasant feelings at all. If you feel itchy and burning, there may be a leakage problem.
Odor:No unpleasant smell will be detected after wearing the ostomy bag normally. When the smell of excrement is detected, there may be leakage or the activated carbon filter has failed
Voice: Compared with enterostomy, there won’t be any sound at all.
Weight and presence: Under normal circumstances, a stoma does not have much presence. The Urostomy bag will increase in weight as the amount of urine inside it grows and needs to be drained and replaced in a timely manner. Or you can use a support belt to reduce the force on the skin.
Psychological feelings: In the early stage after urostomy surgery, most patients may experience unease, anxiety or worry about their own image. Through a long period of adaptation and care, patients will gradually regain their confidence and self-esteem and live comfortably and freely. Patients can communicate and interact more with their relatives and partners in daily life, or join a stoma patient group to seek psychological support.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Seek medical attention immediately (emergency) in the following situations:

If the fever exceeds 38℃, accompanied by lower back pain, nausea, vomiting and other problems, it may be a urinary tract infection or nephritis.

Stop urinating, accompanied by abdominal pain, back pain, etc.

If the color of the stomata turns purple or black, it may indicate insufficient blood supply or stoma necrosis.

There is a large amount of bleeding or continuous bleeding at the stoma.

Please contact the doctor as soon as possible

Cloudy urine or urine containing a large amount of crystals may indicate infection.

The stoma retracts below the skin surface.

There is erosion and exudation on the skin at the stoma, accompanied by itching or pain, and skin problems such as infection and allergy may occur.

Continuous excessive gas emissions cause the pores to expand.

Where to buy best urostomy bag?

Zodelo, as a professional urostomy bag manufacturer, We offer a comprehensive product line from entry-level to premium: Airlora Series, Calmlora Series, Mellora Series, Joylora Series and Ostomy Product Accessories.—there’s always one that fits your daily routine.

We also had ISO13485, CE, and FDA certifications, bring you the most reassuring and high-quality ostomy care.

We will also provide the most high-quality customer service and after-sales service.

Get our product catalog and contact us.

FAQs about How To Change A Urostomy Bag

Q1. Can a urostomy be reversed?

Whether a urostomy can be reversed depends on the specific cause of the patient’s illness, their physical condition and the state of their bladder. It can generally be divided into permanent urostomy and temporary urostomy.

Permanenturostomy: A permanent urostomy cannot be reversed. If radical resection of bladder cancer is performed and the bladder is removed, it cannot be restored, so the stoma is also permanent and irreversible.
Temporary urostomy:A temporary urostomy can be reversed. If trauma, radiotherapy or surgical complications require temporary drainage, the stoma can be removed after full recovery, and normal urination function can be restored.

Q2. What is the recovery time after a urostomy?

1-2 weeks after urostomy, rehabilitation treatment in the hospital is required. At this time, the stoma will be painful and uncomfortable, and painkillers and intravenous fluids are needed to help with recovery. Patients need to learn how to observe the stoma and how to change the urostomy bag.
3-8 weeks after urostomy,the skin around the stoma gradually stabilizes. Patients should try to avoid excessive force and vigorous bending activities to prevent damage to the stoma.
Basically recovered 2 to 6 months after urostomy. The stoma is completely stable, and the patient can work, exercise and go out normally. The patient also became proficient in changing the urostomy bag, gradually adapted to it and regained confidence.

Q3. Do you still pee after a urostomy?

The original urination function will cease or undergo fundamental changes, which can be specifically divided into two situations:

The condition after radical cystectomy：

If the surgery completely removes the bladder due to bladder cancer or other reasons, you will no longer be able to excrete any urine through the urethra at all. All urine will be discharged from the stoma in the abdomen into the urostomy bag.

Bladder or urethral diversion surgery:

In some non-cancerous or palliative surgeries, the bladder may be retained but wound. At this point, there may still be secretions in the bladder, or a small amount of urine may reflux into the bladder, but this is not true urine. The main outlet for urine is still the stoma.

Conclusion — How To Change A Urostomy Bag？

The urostomy bag is not merely a simple medical consumable; It is an important tool for patients with urostomy to lead a confident and comfortable life. Therefore, understanding How To Change A Urostomy Bag is an indispensable step for all stoma patients and also the first step to take proper and reasonable care of the stoma.

Zodelo is committed to providing high-quality urostomy bags and accessories for ostomy patients worldwide. We constantly develop and upgrade stoma care solutions, adhere to medical safety standards, and bring the confident, comfortable and reassuring urostomy bag to all stoma patients. Get our product catalog and contact us.

More Resourses:

Urostomy— clevelandclinic
Urostomy – Stoma and Skin Care— ufhealth
Urostomy pouches and supplies— medlineplus
Changing Your Urostomy Pouching (Bag) System at Home— mskcc

How To Change A Urostomy Bag？

Table of Contents

What is urostomy?