What are the indications for surgical intervention in patients with salivary gland stones in the UK primary care setting?

Indications for surgical intervention in patients with salivary gland stones in UK primary care are not explicitly detailed in the provided NICE guidelines. The supplied guidelines focus on renal, ureteric, and gallstone disease management, without specific recommendations for salivary gland stones.

However, by analogy to stone management principles in other glandular systems, surgical intervention for salivary gland stones is generally considered when:

• Conservative management fails to relieve symptoms, such as persistent pain or recurrent infections.
• The stone causes obstruction leading to gland swelling or infection that does not resolve with medical treatment.
• The stone is large or impacted and unlikely to pass spontaneously.

In primary care, initial management includes symptom control and referral to ENT or oral surgery specialists for further assessment and possible surgical removal if indicated.

For definitive UK guidance on salivary gland stones, referral to ENT or oral and maxillofacial surgery services is recommended, as NICE guidelines for renal and gallstones do not cover salivary gland stones specifically.