Lithotomy refers to the surgical removal of bladder stones. This was a common ailment in the past due to poor diet. The earliest known sample comes from an Egyptian mummy from 4800 BC. The size of the bladder stones (some as big as a chicken egg!) could become life-threatening. They could block the flow of urine into the bladder from the kidneys; or, they could prevent the flow of urine out of the bladder through the urethra. This meant that the person suffering from this ailment would need to have an invasive procedure to remove the bladder stone. William Cheselden, one of Old St Thomas' Hospital surgeons, became most famous for his advancement of lithotomy techniques. After 1727, his 'lateral removal of bladder stone' reduced operating time from forty minutes down to only one minute, the genuine merciful method for a patient at a time where no anaesthetics were available. His methods increased survival rates for the Hospital's patients to 92%. ![[Pasted image 20230910235007.png]]