Surgeons remove 'baby-sized' 3.1kg bladder stone from patient

A team of surgeons at Trincomalee District General Hospital in Sri Lanka has removed a giant bladder stone weighing 3.1kg from a 55-year-old stroke patient, in what doctors believe could be the largest bladder stone ever surgically removed.

The patient had been admitted to the hospital after suffering a stroke, according to a report by BBC.

During his treatment, doctors noticed that he was experiencing difficulty urinating. Further examinations revealed a large collection of stones in his urinary bladder.

Surgeons subsequently operated to remove the unusually large stone.

The stone measured about 17cm in length, with its dimensions reported to range between 14cm and 19cm.

Doctors said its weight was comparable to that of a full-term baby, while its size and appearance were likened to an ostrich egg.

Dr Pragalathan Balakrishnan, who led the surgical team, told the broadcaster, “According to available records, it is the largest bladder stone ever documented and removed through surgery.”

Dr Balakrishnan said the stone may have remained in the patient's bladder for between five and 10 years before it was discovered.

Doctors said the patient remained in very good condition following the procedure and was continuing to receive treatment for his other medical conditions.

Bladder stones develop when minerals and other substances in concentrated urine crystallise, forming hard masses.

They are often associated with the bladder failing to empty completely, which allows urine to become concentrated and encourages crystal formation.

Very small stones, sometimes no larger than grains of sand, may pass naturally through the urinary tract.

Larger stones, however, can obstruct the flow of urine and may require medical treatment or surgical removal.

Stones measuring more than 4cm are generally considered giant bladder stones.

The Sri Lankan stone appears to surpass the previous Guinness World Records record.

According to Guinness, the largest bladder stone previously recorded was removed from a patient in Brazil in 2003. It weighed 1.9kg and measured 17.9cm in length.

At about 17cm long and weighing 3.1kg, the stone removed in Sri Lanka is significantly heavier than the previous record-holder.

However, any new record would require formal verification by Guinness World Records.