No, this ISN’T an onion – it’s the world’s biggest ever kidney stone!

No, this IS NOT an onion – it’s the world’s largest kidney stone ever! Retired Sri Lankan soldier, 62, has mass 5 inches long by 4 inches wide weighing 800 grams pulled from him

  • It weighed a whopping 800 grams – about the same as an eight-week-old kitten
  • The double record-breaking find was 13.37 cm long and 10.55 cm wide

A Sri Lankan man has broken the world record for the largest kidney stone ever.

Retired soldier Canistus Coonghe’s huge mass, which looked like an onion, was even larger than his actual kidney.

Guinness World Records claimed it to be 13.37 cm (5.26 in) long and 10.55 cm (4.15 in) wide.

And the 62-year-old’s kidney stone weighed 800 grams. This is about the same as a loaf of bread or a large box of cereal.

It makes Mr. Coonghe’s mass the largest and heaviest on record.

It weighed a whopping 800 grams, which is about the same as an eight week old kitten

Canistus Coonghe has broken two world records after army surgeon Dr. Kugadas Sutharshan, center of picture, removed a kidney stone measuring 13.37 cm long and 10.55 cm wide

Canistus Coonghe has broken two world records after army surgeon Dr. Kugadas Sutharshan, center of picture, removed a kidney stone measuring 13.37 cm long and 10.55 cm wide

Doctors at the army hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said that despite it being in his right kidney, his organs were working surprisingly well

Doctors at the army hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said that despite it being in his right kidney, his organs were working surprisingly well

Dr. Kugadas Sutharshan, the surgeon who removed it during surgery on June 1 at the army hospital in Colombo, said that despite it being in his right kidney, his organs were working properly.

Surgeons didn’t say if it hurt him. But even small ones can be painful.

Kidney stones are usually no bigger than a small stone and can usually be passed in your pee. They consist of minerals such as calcium.

About one in ten people will get kidney stones at some point in their life.

Pain is felt as they pass through the ureters from the kidneys to the bladder. Without treatment, they can cause infections and damage the organ.

One way to deal with this is the so-called ‘conservative’ treatment, where nature takes its course.

The grueling operation removed Canistus Coonghe's stone (pictured on the bed) through an incision in the pelvis of his kidney

The grueling operation removed Canistus Coonghe’s stone (pictured on the bed) through an incision in the pelvis of his kidney

Surgeons didn't say if it hurt him.  But even small ones can be painful

Surgeons didn’t say if it hurt him. But even small ones can be painful

Patients are given pain medication, but otherwise told to go away, grin and put up with it.

Other methods include surgical removal or blowing them up with high-frequency shock waves to shatter them into small fragments. The method chosen often depends on how big the stones are and where they are placed.

People can reduce the risk of kidney stones by drinking plenty of water and making sure their urine is pale in color – a signal that they are well hydrated.

The previous record for the heaviest kidney stone, 1.36 pounds, was set by a Pakistani man in 2008.

Meanwhile, the longest measures 5.11 inches. It was surgically removed from an Indian man in 2004.

WHAT ARE KIDNEY STONES?

Kidney stones are hard lumps that form from a buildup of waste products in the blood.

They are usually found in the kidney or ureter — the tube that connects the kidneys to your bladder.

They can be extremely painful and can lead to kidney infections or the kidney not working properly if left untreated.

One-tenth of Britons and Americans suffer from kidney stones, with those aged 30 to 60 being the most vulnerable.

It is more likely that someone is not drinking enough, is taking certain medications, or has an underlying condition.

Symptoms include pain in the side of the abdomen, severe pain that comes and goes, and nausea or vomiting.

Those who are in severe pain, have a high temperature or have blood in their urine should contact their GP or NHS 111 immediately.

Once a kidney stone has formed, the body will try to excrete it through the urine.

Most are small enough to do this and can be managed at home.

However, larger stones may need to be broken up with surgery.

Up to half of all patients will develop kidney stones again within five years.

Source: health service