Doctors in Sri Lanka have removed the largest bladder stone ever recorded.
A 55‑year‑old man in Trincomalee General Hospital had a 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) stone extracted last week. The stone – the size of a full‑term baby and about 17 cm long – had likely been growing in the patient’s bladder for 5–10 years.
The patient was originally admitted for a stroke; while receiving treatment doctors noticed severe urinary difficulty. A surgical team led by Dr Prahalahan Balakrishnan removed the stone, saying it was the biggest ever documented in a surgical setting.
Bladder stones form when minerals crystallise in the urine and become solid lumps. They are usually small, but stones larger than 1 cm can block urine flow and require surgery; those over 4 cm are considered giant.
According to Guinness World Records, the previous record was a 1.9 kg stone removed in Brazil in 2003. The Sri Lankan stone now tops that record.
The patient remains hospitalized for ongoing treatment of other conditions, but doctors report his health has improved.
