I have a 1cm kidney stone and am scheduled for eswl surgery should i also have a stent? the dr is leaving the decision up to me.

Probably not.: Prophylactic placement of a ureteral stent prior to eswl is somewhat controversial depending on the situation. Stents themselves may cause significant pain and other problems. If there is no obstruction, infection or other complicating factor, then placement of a stent before eswl is usually not necessary for stones less than 2 cm. Also, a stent can always be placed after the eswl if needed.

That is correct...: You may get by without stent for treating a 1-cm kidney stone with eswl, but always prepare and commit yourself for possible intervention to stent ureter or remove fragments piling up in distal ureter with possible pending infection above the stone-relate blockage. So, doc is fair and right for you.