Ahmed Saeed Mohammed Omar was 56 years old when his polycystic kidney disease caused his kidneys to reach an extraordinary size. One of them came to weigh 4,25 kilos and measure 34 × 17 centimeters, longer than a rugby ball.
Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder that causes cysts to appear and grow in the kidneys. In Ahmed’s case, both organs were extremely enlarged, and his abdomen had grown to the point of compressing his internal organs, causing him difficulty breathing.
Doctors had recommended removing his kidneys some years earlier, but Ahmed had been reluctant because of the possible complications of such a complex operation. Finally, in October 2016, his condition worsened and he began having difficulty even walking and breathing, so he agreed to undergo surgery at Dubai Hospital.
Although removing a kidney is a routine operation in urology, doctors explained that removing organs of such a size was an extremely delicate procedure. The operation was performed by Dr. Fariborz Bagheri and his team, and it was a success.
After the operation, doctors weighed the kidneys and discovered that they had set a record. At 4,25 kilos, it was almost double the previous world record, held by a 2,14-kilo kidney removed in India in 2011.
In July 2017, Guinness World Records officially confirmed the record for the largest kidney ever removed. After the surgery, Ahmed said that his life had changed completely: he could go out, walk, and meet up with his friends again.