
In Rare Surgery, Doctors Unburden 70-Year-Old Gurugram Man Of 8,000 Gallstones
An ultrasound led to the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, an infection of the gallbladder, with additional complications like gangrene, pus formation, and signs of chronic disease
In a major medical accomplishment, doctors at a private hospital in Gurugram said on Thursday that they had surgically removed over 8,000 stones from the abdomen of an elderly man—possibly the third highest number of gallstones ever extracted in India.
The 70-year-old Gurugram-based patient was admitted to Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), complaining of persistent abdominal pain, irregular fever, loss of appetite, and weakness, along with a feeling of heaviness in the chest and back that had persisted for more than four years.
Like many elderly patients, he was reluctant to seek treatment and visit a doctor despite months of abdominal discomfort. However, when his condition deteriorated due to increased and uncontrollable pain, his family rushed him to the hospital. Upon admission, an ultrasound of the abdomen revealed a densely packed gallbladder.
'The ultrasound led to the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, which is an infection of the gallbladder, with additional complications like gangrene, pus formation, and signs of long-standing chronic disease," Dr Amit Javed, senior director, gastrointestinal oncology, who led the team of doctors to perform the gallstone removal surgery, told News18.
1 hour for surgery, 5 hours for counting stones
Looking at the condition, the team of doctors immediately performed 'minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery" to remove the massive number of gallstones visible on ultrasound. While the surgery was completed in an hour, it took almost five hours for the team to count the stones.
'While laparoscopic gallbladder removal is a routine procedure, this case was exceptional due to the massive number of stones," Javed said while sharing that 'the surgery itself took only one hour. However, it took six hours to perform the post-surgery task of manually counting the stones. The support team spent this time meticulously sorting and counting all 8,125 stones to document this rare occurrence."
The patient was discharged in a stable condition within two days, the hospital said.
In 2015, a team of doctors in Kolkata set a record by removing 11,950 gallstones from a 51-year-old woman's gallbladder—an achievement that was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records. In another notable case that occurred in 2016 at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur, surgeons extracted 11,816 gallstones from a 46-year-old man.
Why and how does such a condition develop?
The key challenge for doctors was to avoid puncturing the gallbladder during the surgery, as doing so could have released thousands of stones into the abdomen, complicating the surgery and increasing the risk of infection or further complications.
'What sets this case apart is the exceptionally high number of stones removed. Most gallstones are composed of cholesterol and are often linked to obesity and high-cholesterol diets," Javed explained.
However, he said, 'The exact cause of the collection of these many stones is not known but may be related to being overweight, underlying diabetes, and long-standing disease. The patient was symptomatic for the last four to five years. The gallstones may have been present much before symptoms started."
The key takeaway, Javed believes, is the importance of early diagnosis and timely treatment. 'Delaying care for gallbladder-related symptoms can lead to serious and complex complications, some of which can be life-threatening. People should not ignore persistent abdominal discomfort and should seek medical attention promptly. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight can also reduce the risk of gallstone formation."
First Published:
May 22, 2025, 21:13 IST

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
City IVF clinic booked after couple allege child isn't their biological son
Hyderabad: Joy of parenthood of a city-based couple proved to be short lived after allegedly discovering that their baby—born through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure and commercial surrogacy at a Secunderabad clinic—was not biologically related to the father. Health officials confirmed DNA tests have revealed that a stranger's sperm was allegedly used without the couple's knowledge or consent, and the child—now diagnosed with some unspecified ailment—may be bearing the consequences of this alleged medical negligence. On Saturday, Hyderabad police registered a case against the clinic under relevant charges. A senior official from the Gopalapuram police station confirmed: "Based on the complaint of the couple against the Srushti Test Tube Baby Centre, we registered a case and are also conducting searches at the facility in Secunderabad. The case is under investigation. We are also probing past cases of probable medical negligence at the clinic by examining donors and admissions list. " You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Deputy commissioner of police, North Zone S Rashmi Perumal denied that the infant was suffering from cancer. "The infant has health ailments, but not cancer, which is a rumour,"' she said. "This is not a case of IVF, but commercial surrogacy. The child was not born to the couple, which is why they went for a DNA test to confirm if the child was theirs or not," the DCP added. In a coordinated operation, a police team took a doctor associated with the facility into custody from another branch in Vijayawada. The authorities are also exploring possible involvement of other IVF centres linked to the clinic across the two Telugu states. As part of an inter-state probe, another police team has been dispatched to Visakhapatnam to trace the clinic's wider network and scrutinise its operational history. The couple, who had been married for several years and struggled with infertility, turned to Srushti clinic for IVF treatment. They were overjoyed when a baby boy was born. But their happiness was short-lived. According to sources in the health department, the child frequently fell ill, prompting the parents to seek comprehensive medical evaluation. "They initially assumed it could be a complication due to the IVF process," an official said. When they approached the clinic, the staff allegedly gave contradictory and evasive responses, only deepening the couple's concerns, officials said. According to a health official, they ordered a DNA test. "The test confirmed that the child born through the treatment is not biologically related to the husband," he said. In 2016, the clinic was at the heart of another controversy when a surrogate child was allegedly found not to be biologically related to a US-based couple. That case led to the five-year suspension of a doctor and a lifetime ban on conducting surrogacy procedures by the Telangana Medical Council.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
City doctor delivers talk at top European conference
Vadodara: Dr Yash Banker, CEO of Vadodara-based Bankers Group of Hospitals, was the sole Indian speaker at the recently held HLTH Europe 2025 conference in Amsterdam. At HLTH Europe, Dr Banker delivered a talk titled "Pioneering Healthcare Entrepreneurship and Innovation in an Emerging Market". He highlighted how India's localized innovations can effectively address global healthcare challenges, emphasizing the potential for the "Indian model" of healthcare — focused on accessibility, affordability, and ingenuity — to serve as a blueprint for global healthcare delivery. "India is no longer the land of snake charmers or diseases; it has transformed into a global hub for innovation and sophisticated healthcare. Our unique solutions, born from a deep understanding of diverse needs, offer a sustainable and scalable model for global healthcare. The Indian model truly holds immense promise for worldwide application."


News18
2 hours ago
- News18
'Equipment For Sale': Gaza Journalist Offers To Sell Press Shield To Feed His Starving Family
Last Updated: Gaza-based photojournalist Mohammed Abo Oun offered his camera equipment and press shield to feed his family as the enclave faces an acute hunger crisis due to Israel's offensive. As the talks for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war reached another roadblock, a Gaza-based photojournalist's plea to sell his equipment to buy food for his starving family has cast the spotlight on the growing humanitarian crisis and hunger in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Israel has come under mounting international outrage over severe shortages of food, clean water and medical supplies in wake of its devastating offensive in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The humanitarian crisis is now affecting aid workers and journalists as well. In a LinkedIn post, journalist Mohammed Abo Oun has offered his camera equipment and press shield to buy food for himself and his family. His post has ignited global attention, reflecting a growing desperation among Gaza's population, who are staring at a devastating food scarcity. 'I am the photojournalist Mohammed Abu Aoun from Gaza, I want to offer my equipment and the press shield for sale so that I can buy food for me and my family," he said. Abo Aoun has contributed to major international media outlets, including The New York Times, Sky News, and ABC News. Gaza Facing Imminent Famine The United Nations and NGOs are warning of an imminent famine in the Gaza Strip – a designation based on strict criteria and scientific evidence. 'A large proportion of the population of Gaza is starving", according to the World Health Organisation's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Malnutrition-related deaths have surged this month, with even humanitarian workers struggling to obtain basic food supplies. Israel imposed a total blockade on the entry of aid into Gaza on March 2 after talks to extend a ceasefire broke down. It began to allow a trickle of aid to enter again in late May, but many groups warned that these steps are not enough to prevent the acute scarcity Gaza faces. Humanitarian organisations have also accused the Israeli army of imposing excessive restrictions on the goods allowed into Gaza and on the routes made available to transport the aid to distribution points. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks Furthermore, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas on Friday, both saying it had become clear that the Palestinian militants did not want a deal. 'Hamas really didn't want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And it's very bad. And it got to be to a point where you're going to have to finish the job," Trump said, while Netanyahu said Israel was considering 'alternative" options to bring its hostages from Gaza. 'Trump's remarks are particularly surprising, especially as they come at a time when progress had been made on some of the negotiation files," Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP. (with inputs from agencies) Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : gaza crisis Israel Hamas Location : Jerusalem, Israel First Published: July 26, 2025, 23:08 IST