Sri Lankan Surgeons Remove Record-Breaking 3.1kg Bladder Stone from Patient

Medical history was made in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, as surgeons successfully removed a massive bladder stone weighing 3.1kg (6.8lb) from a 55-year-old man. This extraordinary mass is believed to be the largest bladder stone ever documented, significantly surpassing the previous world record of 1.9kg (4.2lb) held by a patient in Brazil since 2003. The discovery occurred after the patient, who was already receiving hospital care following a stroke, complained of severe difficulty urinating, prompting further investigation by the medical team.

The complex surgical procedure was led by Dr. Prahalahan Balakrishnan, who revealed that the stone measured approximately 17 centimeters in length—comparable in size to a large ostrich egg. Based on its size and composition, medical experts estimate that the stone had been developing within the patient’s bladder for five to ten years. Bladder stones typically form when the bladder does not empty completely, causing the remaining urine to concentrate and minerals to crystallize into hard masses. While many are small enough to pass naturally, a growth of this magnitude is exceptionally rare in modern medicine.

Following the successful operation, Dr. Balakrishnan reported that the patient is in very good health and is recovering well from the surgery. Although the patient remains hospitalized to continue his rehabilitation for the stroke and other underlying conditions, his urological health has improved significantly. This landmark case serves as a remarkable example of surgical success in urology and highlights the extreme physical tolerance of the human body in enduring such significant internal mineral growths over a decade.