Abstract:Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of single percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SPCNL) and antegrade flexible ureteroscopy-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy (AFPCNL) in the treatment of staghorn calculus.Methods A total of 160 patients with staghorn calculus who met the study criteria and were admitted to our hospital from January 2021 to December 2024 were enrolled, they were randomly divided into the SPCNL group (81 cases) and the AFPCNL group (79 cases). The overall differences in surgical parameters, and clinical outcomes between the SPCNL group and the AFPCNL group were compared. Then, the patients were divided into two subgroups: Group 1 (number of stone branches < 5) and group 2 (number of stone branches ≥ 5), and the differences in clinical and surgical parameters between the two subgroups were compared.Results Compared with the SPCNL group, the AFPCNL group had a higher stone clearance rate, required fewer percutaneous accesses, and shorter operative time, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In addition, the AFPCNL group had a lower staged surgery rate, especially in patients with stone branches ≥5, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in hemoglobin level changes and blood transfusion requirements between the SPCNL group and AFPCNL group (P > 0.05). The incidence of perioperative complications was not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion AFPCNL for staghorn calculus has a higher stone clearance rate. Compared with SPCNL, AFPCNL requires fewer multiple percutaneous accesses, a lower staged surgery rate, and shorter operative time, especially in patients with ≥5 stone branches.