A total of 458 patients underwent ileal conduit urinary diversion between 1970 and 1984. An end stoma was constructed in 44% of the patients and a Turnbull loop stoma in 56%. The median interval between appliance changes for all patients was 5 days. Patients with an end stoma had a longer median interval between appliance changes than those with a loop stoma. A total of 51 patients had 66 complications. Operations for stomal revisions were required in 5.5% of the patients. There was no difference in interval until initial complication between the end and loop stoma groups, although the end stoma was more prone to ischemic complications than the loop stoma. We conclude that the ileal conduit stoma constructed in an end or loop fashion yielded clinically equivalent long-term function.