Full Breakdown
Sri Lankan Surgeons Remove Potentially Largest Bladder Stone on Record
8/18/2026, 8:56:24 PM
Core Event
Doctors at a hospital in Trincomalee, eastern Sri Lanka, surgically extracted a 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) bladder stone from a 55-year-old man who had been admitted after a stroke. While treating his stroke-related condition, clinicians noted difficulty urinating and discovered the stone during examination. The patient remains hospitalized for ongoing care of his other medical issues.
Background & Context
Bladder stones develop when minerals in urine crystallise, often because the bladder does not empty completely, leaving concentrated urine that can solidify. Small stones may pass naturally, but those larger than 1 cm typically obstruct urine flow and require medical intervention. Stones exceeding 4 cm are classified as “giant.” The Sri Lankan stone measured roughly 17 cm in length, placing it well within the giant category.
Data & Statistics
- Weight of removed stone: 3.1 kg (6.8 lb).
- Approximate length: 17 cm, comparable to an ostrich egg.
- Patient’s age: 55 years.
- Estimated residence time in bladder: 5–10 years (per surgeon).
- Prior Guinness World Records entry: a 1.9 kg (4.2 lb) stone, 17.9 cm long, removed in Brazil in 2003.
Official Statements & Responses
Dr Prahalahan Balakrishnan, who led the operation, reported that the patient was in “very good health” following the procedure and that the stone had likely been present for five to ten years. He emphasized that the case appears to set a new benchmark for surgically removed bladder stones.
Verbatim Quotes
- “According to available records, it is the largest bladder stone ever documented and removed through surgery,” — Dr Prahalahan Balakrishnan
