[Evaluation of the free nipple method in cutaneous ureterostomy]

Cutaneous ureterostomies, in which urostomas were made by a free nipple method, were performed on 14 ureters of 10 patients. The free nipple method was evaluated from the standing point of stoma care. Catheterless cutaneous ureterostomy was applied in 8 of the 10 patients. Six patients had to have catheters, and the catheter was not needed in 2 patients. The reasons for reindwelling the catheter in 6 patients were: 1) the urostoma had come to be at skin level by disturbance of blood supply for the ureter, and 2) urine puddled just on the urostoma and oozed out between the skin and Varicare flange. It may be concluded that the free nipple method is not satisfactory as urostoma in cutaneous ureterostomy for advancing the quality of life of the ostomate. A further study is in progress.