We report the results of 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous removal of renal and ureteral stones. Removal was successful for 98.3 per cent of the targeted renal stones and 88.2 per cent of the ureteral stones. Complications, evolution and technique are discussed. Percutaneous techniques are an effective way to handle the majority of renal calculi and these techniques will continue to be important as shock wave lithotripsy becomes more widespread in the United States.