Table 1.

Characteristics of 7 included randomized controlled trials

Included studies	Country	Study period	Sample size	Comparison	Measured outcomes
Bansal et al[5], 2010	India	2007-2008	30	Preoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 15) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 15)	Successful removal of gallbladder and CBD clearance, complications
Rogers et al[24], 2010	United States	1997-2003	122	Preoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 61) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 61)	Stone clearance from CBD, length of hospital stay, cost of index hospitalization, hospital charges, professional fees, patient acceptance, morbidity, mortality, quality of life scores
Rhodes et al[25], 1998	United Kingdom	1995-1997	80	Postoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 40) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 40)	Duct-clearance rates, morbidity, operating time and hospital stay
Cuschieri et al[26], 1999	Scotland	1994-1997	300	Preoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 150) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 150)	Hospital stay, success rates, conversion rates, morbidity and mortality
Nathanson et al[27], 2005	Australia	1998-2003	86	Postoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 45) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 41)	Operative time, morbidity, retained stone rate, reoperation rate and hospital stay
Sgourakis et al[28], 2002	Greece	1997-2000	78	Preoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 42) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 36)	Stone clearance, morbidity, mortality, conversion, hospital stay, complications
Noble et al[29], 2009	United Kingdom	2000-2006	91	Preoperative ERCP/EST + LC (n = 47) vs LC + LCBDE (n = 44)	Duct clearance, complications, number of procedures per patient, conversion and hospital stay

RCTs: Randomized controlled trial; CBD: Common bile duct; LC: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; EST: Endoscopic sphincterotomy; LCBDE: Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.