What is the purpose of an Indiana pouch?

The Indiana pouch is designed specifically for continent urinary diversion, which is its primary purpose. This surgical procedure involves creating an internal reservoir from a section of the intestine that is connected to the bladder. The pouch allows patients who have undergone cystectomy (removal of the bladder) to store urine internally and subsequently perform catheterization to empty the pouch. This enables the patient to maintain a degree of bladder function without the need for an external collection bag, thus enhancing their quality of life.

The construction of the Indiana pouch allows for voluntary control over urination, as patients can choose when to empty the pouch through catheterization. This is particularly beneficial for those needing a urinary diversion due to bladder cancer or other conditions requiring bladder removal.

In contrast, a permanent colostomy involves creating an opening in the abdominal wall for the large intestine, not designed for urine storage. A temporary ileostomy is focused on diverting stool from the small intestine, rather than addressing urinary function. Lastly, a method for sigmoid colectomy is related to surgical intervention involving the sigmoid colon, not urinary diversion, making it irrelevant to the specifics of how the Indiana pouch operates.