Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has now been in clinical use for more than 4 years. In October 1983, the second kidney lithotripter in the world was installed in our department and, from then until October 1984, 800 treatments were performed on 733 patients. Our results confirm the promising reports published by the Munich group. Furthermore, it was possible to extend the range of indications by combining ESWL with percutaneous procedures, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy. As a result only 7% of all patients who were referred to our hospital with urinary stones (4% of renal stone patients and 15% of those with ureteral stones) had to undergo open surgery.