What do you think of when you hear about the Guinness Book of World Records? People with extraordinary strength or amazing feats of eating?
In 2015, a new and interesting record was recognized by the famous record-keeping organization–an achievement involving a physician from South Valley Ear Nose & Throat.
Early this year, Dr. Ryan Gilbert was recognized as the physician who surgically removed the largest tonsils in history.
“When I removed the tonsils of the patient,” said Dr. Gilbert, “I certainly knew they were big. Being a world record, however, was quite a surprise.”
The tonsils belonged to South Valley Ear Nose & Throat patient, Patrick Keller, of Fort Union Utah. At the time, Keller was rushed to the emergency room in West Jordan because of a restricted airway. He later had his tonsils removed and measured at a stunning 2.4 inches long and 1.4 inches wide, 1.2 inches thick and weighing 28 grams for the left tonsil and 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, 1 inch thick and weighing 25 grams for the right tonsil.
Dr. Gilbert has done many tonsillectomies since this world-record setting surgery but none have come close to matching the size of Patrick’s tonsils.
Asked if he thinks the record for the largest tonsils could be broken again, Dr. Gilbert was reluctantly optimistic.
“Otolaryngologists all over the world are asked to remove tonsils every day.” said Dr. Gilbert. “It will just be a matter of time until the record is broken–but it will be fun while it lasts.”
See the official record here at guinnessworldrecords.com.