Medics in Taiwan have removed more than 300 stones from a young lady’s kidney after she drank sweetened drinks instead of water for years.
The 20-year-old woman, whose name was not disclosed, appeared at the Chi Mei Medical Centre in Tainan with severe fever and waist pain, according to local newspaper ETtoday, on 8th December.
When questioned about her condition, she told medics that she barely drinks water and instead hydrates herself with hand-shaken beverages such as bubble tea, fruit juice, and alcoholic beverages for years.
After preliminary checks, doctors saw that the woman’s right kidney was severely swollen, and took an X-ray scan to determine the cause.
They were stunned to find out that it was filled with more than 300 stones ranging between 0.5 and two centimetres (0.2 and 0.8 inches).
After a two-hour-long procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy, the medics removed the massive amount of stones from her kidney. Which according to head surgeon Dr Lin Caiyang, looked like small steamed buns.
Local media revealed that her condition was stable following the procedure. She was discharged several days later.
Caiyang listed genetics, water intake, and diet, as the most important factors for kidney stone formation.
Netizens were astonished after a snap showing the removed kidney stones appeared on social media sites.
Facebook user ‘Judy’ said: “There are so many stones that you can use them for garden landscaping.”
User ‘Sugiy Akim’ commented: “Drink more water!”
And ‘Chen Yishan’ added: “These stones are so polished.”
