What do you think of when you hear about the Guinness Book of World Records? People with extraordinary strength or amazing feats of eating?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early this year, Dr. Ryan Gilbert was recognized as the physician who surgically removed the largest tonsils in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I removed the tonsils of the patient,\u201d said Dr. Gilbert, \u201cI certainly knew they were big. Being a world record, however, was quite a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Gilbert has done many tonsillectomies since this world-record setting surgery but none have come close to matching the size of Patrick\u2019s tonsils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked if he thinks the record for the largest tonsils could be broken again, Dr. Gilbert was reluctantly optimistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOtolaryngologists all over the world are asked to remove tonsils every day.\u201d said Dr. Gilbert. \u201cIt will just be a matter of time until the record is broken–but it will be fun while it lasts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n