Why it's done

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is typically recommended in the following situations:

• Large kidney stones are blocking more than one branch of the collecting system of the kidney (known as staghorn kidney stones)
• Kidney stones are larger than 0.8 inch (2 centimeters) in diameter
• Large stones are in the ureter
• Other therapies have failed

Before you undergo percutaneous nephrolithotomy, your doctor will perform several tests. Urine and blood tests check for signs of infection or other problems, and a computerized tomography (CT) scan determines where the stones are in your kidney.