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In recent years, there has been a complete change in the treatment of reno-ureteral lithiasis due to the availability of new endourological techniques (percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopy) and particularly due to the development of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). The present study assessed the combination of endourological procedures and ESWL in the treatment of calculi localized in the kidney and lumbar ureter. A prospective study was undertaken to assess 1,500 renal units with calculi in the renal cavity and lumbar ureter that had been submitted to treatment by ESWL and endourological techniques. The results demonstrate that ESWL combined with percutaneous and endoscopic techniques affords effective treatment without major complications in 85.4% of calculi in the renal cavity and lumbar ureter. Treatment with ESWL as monotherapy was successful in 45.6% of the cases and endourological management prior to ESWL was successful in 39.8% of the cases. The most common complication of ESWL was colic and/or kidney referred discomfort (28.6%) and the most important complication was urinary tract obstruction following ESWL (9.67%). These required maneuvers to remove post-ESWL obstruction in 6.1% of the renal units treated. The number of shock waves employed and the kV utilized were associated to intense hematuria and perirenal hematoma. The combination of endourological techniques with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy completely eliminated calculi in 80.5% of the renal units at 3 months. 10.5% had remaining stone fragments that could be spontaneously passed, and 7.6% had larger residual fragments that could not be passed.