Vizag AINU doctors remove tennis ball-sized bladder stone, smaller ones in complex surgery

Visakhapatnam: Doctors at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) successfully removed a massive 600-gram stone from the urinary bladder of a 42-year-old man, along with several smaller stones, in a complex surgical procedure.

What is the medical case about?

The patient, identified as G Raju, had been suffering from worsening urinary symptoms over the past few months.

What initially began as mild burning during urination progressed into severe lower abdominal pain, frequent urge to urinate with little relief, difficulty passing urine and sleep disturbances due to persistent discomfort.

‘Nearly the size of a tennis ball’

Raju had a prior history of kidney stone treatment, including major surgeries in 2019. However, as his condition deteriorated, he approached AINU Visakhapatnam for medical evaluation. A detailed examination, including a CT scan, revealed multiple bladder stones, including one unusually large stone nearly the size of a tennis ball.

Doctors noted that such large stones typically develop gradually when early symptoms are ignored, often leading to serious complications by the time they are diagnosed.

Complexity of ailment needed open surgery

Given the size and number of stones, the medical team opted for open surgery instead of minimally invasive techniques.

The procedure was led by Dr G. Ravindra Varma, Managing Director and Senior Consultant Urologist, along with a team of specialists. Surgeons carefully opened the bladder and removed all five stones, including the largest one, before closing it with precision. The surgery was completed successfully without complications.

Following the procedure, the patient experienced immediate relief from his symptoms and is currently recovering well.

Other doctors involved in the surgery included Dr Amit Saple, Executive Director and Senior Consultant Urologist, and Dr P Sridhar, Consultant Urologist.

Importance of not ignoring urinary symptoms

Speaking about the case, Dr Ravindra Varma emphasised the importance of not ignoring early urinary symptoms such as pain during urination, lower abdominal discomfort, difficulty passing urine, or recurrent infections. He advised seeking timely medical attention to prevent complications and avoid major surgical interventions.