This operation was designed to help people who experience prolonged incontinence or cannot empty their bladder completely via their urethra. Your surgeon will explain the details of the procedure, how it works and what will happen after the operation, both in the short and long-term.
To create a Mitrofanoff stoma, the surgeon will take your appendix and connect one end to your bladder and the other end to the wall of your abdomen (tummy), either into the navel or lower down below the level of most underwear. This small opening (stoma) is used to pass a tube, called a catheter, along the new channel into the bladder so it can be emptied. If you have already had your appendix removed, don’t worry. There are other ways of making a Mitrofanoff channel. One way is by using a tiny segment of small bowel.
Some people also have their bladder enlarged at the same time as having the Mitrofanoff.
You may be admitted to hospital a few days before surgery. This is to make sure you are well enough to have the operation. Also, sometimes it is necessary to empty the bowel and make sure it is clean before the procedure is started. A clean, empty bowel is especially important if you are having your bladder enlarged. This helps to prevent infections after the surgery. The bowel is usually cleaned by temporarily changing your diet to clear fluid drinks only (for one or two days) and by taking medicine that empties the bowel.
Although you will not be able to eat and drink immediately after surgery, you should be up and around and eating and drinking as usual after about 2-3 days. Your stay in hospital will usually be about 3-5 days.
After the operation and when you go home, a catheter will stay in the stoma for up to six weeks, to drain urine from the bladder. You will then be asked to come back to the hospital and will be taught how to catheterise the bladder through your stoma. Many people will already know the basic principle because they have been using a catheter to empty urine through the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body) for some time.
The nurse or doctor will help you do your first catheterisation. Sometimes a washout is done at the same time. This just clears your bladder of any ‘debris’ which can cause problems by blocking the catheter. You can reduce the amount of this ‘debris’ by drinking a glass of cranberry juice every day. If you are on blood thinning medicines you should not take cranberry. If you are unsure seek medical opinion.
Urinary tract infections sometimes occur following this type of operation (especially if you are not careful about keeping to a clean catheterisation routine), but cranberry juice is known to reduce the risk of these occurring.
Catheterisation via Mitrofanoff is not a sterile procedure, but is a clean one. This is how it should be performed. Make sure you have everything you need before you start.
Wash your hands and prepare your catheter. Gently introduce the catheter into your stoma, making sure you go far enough in to drain the urine. When the urine has stopped draining, advance the catheter about a centimetre further to ensure your bladder is completely empty. Then slowly remove the catheter, twisting it as you do so and throw it away. Some catheters can be rinsed and stored in a clean container, depending on the type of catheter that you have chosen to use. Wash your hands again.
As with any surgery, sometimes problems do occur. The stoma can occasionally become narrowed (stenosed). If it becomes difficult for you to catheterise your stoma, this could be the reason.
If this happens it is important for you to contact your doctor or specialist nurse immediately. At this stage, if a problem is developing, it is fairly easy to correct, for example, by leaving a catheter in for a few days or stretching the stoma under a short general anaesthetic (not as bad as you think!).
Do not wait until you cannot pass the catheter at all, as this can often be too late and will need more major surgery to fix.
Other problems such as difficulty in fully emptying the bladder, and urine infections, can occur.
You should let your doctor or nurse know if you have any of the following:
Never leave catheterisation for longer than four hours during the day. Your bladder may overfill and there is a real risk that it could burst if you have also had surgery to your bladder neck.
It is recommended that you wear a Medic-Alert to alert medical professionals that you have had a Mitrofanoff.
If you have any problems or questions concerning your Mitrofanoff, you should ask your doctor, continence nurse or Shine Specialist Adviser.
The Shine Health Hub offers face-to-face health checks with our specialist team for Shine members at our health suite in Peterborough. Appointments must be pre-booked.
Click here to find out more.
