When Is Surgical Intervention of Kidney Stones Necessary?

Early surgical intervention is important for removing obstructive kidney stones. However, when dealing with smaller stones, it may be better to leave them alone.

According to Innes et al, early intervention of smaller stones (<5mm) leads to a 14% increase in treatment failure compared with spontaneous passage*. Patients who are older, female, prone to hydronephrosis and have proximal stones are also at higher risk of treatment failure.

Sources:
Which Patients Should Have Early Surgical Intervention for Acute Ureteral Colic?