Can you imagine a bladder stone that is as heavy as a newborn human child or as big as an ostrich egg? According to reports, a crystallise that was removed from the bladder of a Sri Lankan man measured 17 centimetres and weighed 3.1 kilograms!
Bladder stones form in the bladder, usually as a consequence of urine remaining in the bladder for a long time and becoming concentrated, allowing crystals to form. This process most frequently happens when you can’t completely empty your bladder while passing urine. Anyone can get bladder stones, but men over 50 are more likely to develop them.
According to available information, it was a 55-year-old stroke survivor whose life became a living hell due to the rare medical condition. Since he couldn't communicate effectively, his condition was revealed only when the medical team at the Trincomalee District General Hospital identified that he was having difficulty urinating, a report said.
According to available information, the middle-aged man was undergoing treatment at the hospital ever since he suffered a stroke. When the doctors learnt about his difficulty while urinating, further tests were conducted and the presence of the big stone was discovered, NDTV said in a report. The surgical procedure to remove the unusually big stone was led by urologist Dr Pragaladhan Balakrishnan. He was assisted by a team of specialists, the report said.
Post-surgery, the patient was in "very good health" and remains admitted at the hospital due to his other medical conditions, a report said.
"The doctors believe it could be the largest bladder stone ever surgically removed and documented, although the claim still needs official verification," the NDTV report said.
Meanwhile, quoting the Guinness World Records, the BBC reported that the largest bladder stone was removed from a patient in Brazil in 2003. It weighed 1.9kg and had a length of 17.9cm.
How are bladder stones removed?
Cystolitholapaxy and surgery are the two procedures usually followed to remove bladder stones.
Cystolitholapaxy is done by inserting a cystoscope into the patient's bladder through the urethra to locate the stone. Doctors then use a laser or ultrasound waves to break the stone into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces are then removed from the bladder with the help of fluids.
In the case of larger stones, an open surgery may be needed for removal, Cleveland Clinic said on its website. "The urologist will use a sharp knife (scalpel) to make a small cut (incision) in your abdomen and take out the stone. If your stone develops because of benign prostate hyperplasia, the urologist may also remove prostate tissue that blocks your urethra," the report read.
How to prevent bladder stones?
As per medical websites, any condition that blocks the flow of urine from the bladder to the urethra can lead to the formation of bladder stones.
"Drinking more fluids, especially water, may help prevent bladder stones. Fluids water down the concentration of minerals in the bladder. How much water to drink depends on age, size, health and level of activity," Mayo Clinic said.
