title: A giant dumbbell shaped vesico-prostatic urethral calculus: a case report and review of literature.
abstract: Calculi in the urethra are an uncommon entity. Giant calculi in prostatic urethra are extremely rare. The decision about treatment strategy of calculi depends upon the size, shape, and position of the calculus and the status of the urethra. If the stone is large and immovable, it may be extracted via the perineal or the suprapubic approach. In most of the previous reported cases, giant calculi were extracted via the transvesical approach and external urethrotomy. A 38-year-old male patient presented with complaints of lower urinary tract symptoms. Further investigations showed a giant urethral calculus secondary to stricture of bulbo-membranous part of the urethra. Surgical removal of calculus was done via transvesical approach. Two calculi were found and extracted. One was a huge dumbbell calculus and the other was a smaller round calculus. This case was reported because of the rare size and the dumbbell nature of the stone. Giant urethral calculi are better managed by open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Victoria Hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore 560002, India.
authors.forename: Vinod Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Prabhuswamy
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Ramakrishnan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy