Sri Lankan man breaks Guinness World Records for largest, heaviest kidney stone
By Ryan General
June 16, 2023
A retired soldier from Sri Lanka had a record-breaking kidney stone surgically removed.
Coonghe’s massive stone: On June 1, Dr. Kugadas Sutharshan successfully extracted a 1.76-pound kidney stone from 62-year-old Canistus Coonghe through a procedure called open pyelolithotomy, which involved removing the stone through an incision made in the pelvis.
Measuring a staggering 13.37 centimeters (approximately 5.26 inches) in length and 10.55 centimeters (4.15 inches) in width, the stone broke not only the record for the world’s heaviest but also the largest ever extracted from a human.
How they are formed: Chemicals dissolved in the urine crystallize after highly concentrated urine passes through the kidneys, forming the stones.
While smaller stones can be passed through urination, larger ones often require surgical intervention for removal due to the potential for acute pain and complications.
Making the Guinness World Records: Coonghe’s kidney stone broke the Guinness World Record for the largest kidney stone previously set by Vilas Ghuge of India, whose stone measured 13 centimeters (approximately 5.11 inches) in length and was removed in 2004.
Meanwhile, Wazir Muhammad from Pakistan held the previous record for the heaviest kidney stone, weighing 620 grams (approximately 1.37 pounds).
Coonghe’s condition: Aside from an enlarged prostate, the doctors found that Coonghe’s kidney, gallbladder and other vital organs were functioning normally. He is currently in the recovery phase, with positive progress noted.
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