How is a Kock pouch made continent?

• A. Continence is achieved by external collection bag only
• B. By compressing the colon to prevent drainage
• C. Effluent contained in the internal pouch is drained by inserting a tube into the stoma that acts as a conduit
• D. Continence is achieved by a one-way valve in the pouch

Answer: (C)

A Kock pouch stays continent by storing urine in an internal reservoir and providing a catheterizable channel to empty it on demand. The pouch is designed with a continence mechanism (often a nipple or similar valve) that prevents urine from leaking out between catheterizations. When it’s time to void, the person inserts a catheter through the stoma into the internal pouch and drains the urine, then removes the catheter. This combination—an internal reservoir plus a controllable drainage route through the stoma—creates continent storage without a permanent external bag. External bags don’t fit this concept, and simply compressing tissue or relying on a valve inside the pouch without catheter drainage wouldn’t provide the needed controlled emptying.