Is there still a need for open/laparoscopic surgery for urinary stones?

Abstract

SUMMARY Over the past 30 years the treatment of renal calculous disease has changed dramatically. With the advent of extracorporeal lithotripsy and the advances in ureteroscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy, the need for both open and laparoscopic treatments for renal stone disease has been virtually eliminated. In spite of these advances in technology and technique there still remains a small but crucial role for open and laparoscopic treatments for renal stones. The goal of this article is to identify specific clinical scenarios that would require an open/laparoscopic approach for the treatment of kidney stone disease.