Kidney Stone Surgery vs Other Options: How to Decide
Short answer: Before kidney stone surgery, less invasive options are usually considered: small stones may pass with hydration and medication; surgery is used when that is not possible. The final decision is made by the specialist based on your case.
Are there alternatives to kidney stone surgery? Sometimes there are.
Options
Small stones may pass with hydration and medication; surgery is used when that is not possible.
When surgery is preferred
When symptoms persist, there is risk, or conservative options fail. The specialist decides the indication; results vary from person to person.