Indiana Pouch

An Indiana pouch is a surgically-created reservoir used to internally store and eliminate urine. This allows patients who have had their urinary bladders removed to empty their urine with an intermittent catheter.

Who Might Be a Candidate for an Indiana Pouch?

For some conditions like bladder cancer or chronic bladder inflammation, it may be necessary to bypass or even remove the bladder (radical cystectomy). These patients still need a way to store and remove urine from their bodies, so another route is created for this purpose. This is called a urinary diversion. A surgically created solution that stores urine internally like the Indiana pouch is called a continent diversion. 

How is an Indiana Pouch Made?

The Indiana pouch is made out of portions of the colon and a section of the small bowel (ileum) is used to create a channel for catheterization.

How Does an Indiana Pouch Work?

The catheter is inserted into the channel and into the reservoir. Once the pouch is empty, the catheter is removed. The reservoir has a set capacity, so catheterization is required several times a day.

What are the Benefits of an Indiana Pouch?

The Indiana pouch does not require an external pouch for urine collection; for that reason, it is close to undetectable in most cases.

Care at Columbia Urology

If you need reconstructive treatment following radical cystectomy, there are a number of options available. Make an appointment with one of our experts to determine if the Indiana pouch is a good option for you.