ObjectiveTo compare the clinical effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ureteroscope holmium laser lithotripey(URL) in emergency patients with ureteral calculi.MethodsTwo hundred and forty emergency patients with ureteral calculi were retrospectively analyzed,including 110 patients undergoing ESWL (ESWL group) and 130 patients undergoing URL (URL group).Results The success rate of fragmentation and calculi-free rate were 90.0％ (117/130) and 80.8％(105/130) in URL group,of which were 88.2％(97/110) and 75.5％(83/110) in ESWL group with no significant difference between two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ).The success rate of fragmentation and calculi-free rate of upper ureter in ESWL group were much better than those in URL group[93.1％(54/58) vs.84.3％(59/70),77.6％ (45/58) vs.70.0％ (49/70),P ＜ 0.05 ],those of middle-lower ureter in URL group were much better than those in ESWL group[96.7％(58/60) vs.82.7％(43/52),93.3％(56/60) vs.73.1％(38/52),P＜0.05].ConclusionESWL and URL both have good curative effects in emergency patients with ureteral calculi,and ESWL has better effects for upper ureter while URL for middle-lower ureter.