Support for a patient who underwent cutaneous ureterostomy by means of a new procedure which was developed to treat a fistula: The approaches taken before the surgery and after hospital discharge

Abstract

A patient with urinary bladder cancer and left renal cell cancer underwent a total cystectomy, total removal of the left kidney and left urinary duct, and urinary diversion. The author instructed the patient regarding the procedures for the exchange of devices for the treatment of a ureterocutaneous fistula on the right side of the abdominal part. As a primary nurse, the author collected information about the diseases that the patient had before hospitalization and the thoughts of the patient regarding the ureterocutaneous fistula. The author prepared a plan to prepare the patient to undergo the procedures for device exchange by using a checklist for uniform instructions to be provided by other medical staff. To support the daily life of the patient after hospital discharge, the author continued to provide nursing care intervention and support by sharing information with certified wound ostomy continence (WOC) nurses.

With this support, the patient could positively prepare for exchange of the devices by making mental and physical preparations before the surgery. In addition, organized instructions for the patient were effective for both the patient and nurses. The author could thus provide the patient with sufficient support so that the patient could comfortably resume his daily life after hospital discharge through continuous cooperation with the WOC and outpatient nurses before surgery, both during hospitalization and after hospital discharge.