We randomized 75 patients with solitary ureteral calculi that could not be dislodged by ureteral catheterization to receive instillation of saline, 2 per cent lidocaine viscous solution or dilute surgical lubricant before repeat stone manipulation with ureteral catheters. Of the stones irrigated with saline 76 per cent were returned to the pelvis along with 60 per cent of the lidocaine group and 48 per cent of the surgical lubricant treated stones. There was no statistical significance among the 3 groups. The success rates for upper, mid and lower ureteral stones were 80, 54 and 30 per cent, respectively. Of stones 0.5 cm. or less and between 0.6 and 1.0 cm. 77 and 72 per cent, respectively, were manipulated successfully but only 38 per cent of the stones larger than 1.0 cm. could be dislodged. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was successful in treating pelvic and ureteral stones, although higher kilovolt settings and additional shocks were necessary to fragment the ureteral stones completely. Percutaneous nephrostomy or ureteral meatotomy was required in 10 per cent of the patients with impacted ureteral stones following in situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy but in only 4 per cent of the patients with stones successfully returned to the pelvis. Of the ureteral stones 17 per cent were treated with repeat extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. No patient with pelvic stones required repeat treatment. Retrograde manipulation of ureteral stones is an effective adjunctive procedure before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.