Doctors don’t see bladder stones much bigger than this.
This enormous mass, compared to an ostrich egg, was removed from a man’s stomach in Wuhan, China.
The 55-year-old patient, known only as Zhou, eventually sought help for his discomfort that began in June.
As soon as doctors at the Wuhan Jingdu Hospital realised he was carrying the 13cm (5.1 inch) stone, they decided he needed surgery ‘immediately’.
Dr Wang Hui said the mass was ‘like an ostrich egg’.
He added: ‘The bladder stone was larger than an adult human’s fist, taking up his entire bladder.
‘If not quickly removed, it could lead to renal failure.’
As Zhou suffered from heart problems, surgeons decided against a general anaesthetic – instead numbing his abdominal region.
They then fished the stone out using their hands, as they ‘would have a hard time reaching tools inside’, Dr Wang added.
The retrieved bladder stone is the biggest ever found at the hospital.
Dr Wang said it was caused by the patient’s own habits, including not drinking enough water, sitting for extended periods of time and holding in his urine.
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