Giant vesical calculus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Giant bladder calculi are not common in modern urologic practice and many have been found to grow to enormous proportions with minimal symptoms.

METHOD:

We report a 1.6 kg stone removed from the urinary bladder of a 48 year old Nigerian man. The stone increase in size associated with troublesome urinary frequency, which necessitated removal by open vesicolithotomy.

RESULTS:

The calculus weighed 1.6 kg and measured 3cm x 9.5cm x 9.2cm in length breadth and height; and contained calcium carbonate, calcium oxalate, magnesium phosphate and uric acid. It was a complex stone, sticking to the hypertrophied bladder wall. A biopsy of the bladder mucosa revealed no malignancy. The patient was on continuous bladder drainage for 10 days and had a urine flow rate of 20 mls/sec on discharge. He has been seen in the surgical outpatient department 2 weeks and 4 weeks after discharge with no complaints.

CONCLUSION:

Giant vesical calculi are rare and can present with few symptoms. It is very important to exclude lower urinary tract obstruction as the aetiology though a significant number have no such obstruction. The stones are usually mixed because of associated urinary tract infection.

• Authors: S Aliyu, N Ali, A G Ibrahim
• Journal: Nigerian journal of medicine : journal of the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (Niger J Med) 2013 Apr-Jun Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 148-50 ISSN: 1115-2613 [Print] Nigeria
• PMID: 23829128 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Urinary Bladder Calculi (pathology, surgery)