Nathanson 2005.

Methods	Randomised clinical trial. Randomisation of pts with CBS at laparoscopic cholecystectomy after failed transcystic clearance to laparoscopic choledochotomy or postoperative ERCP. Follow‐up: no drop‐outs reported. Time period not stated. Trial closed prior to reaching original sample size calculations due to slow accrual.
Participants	Brisbane. Australia. Commenced June 1998 and completed October 2003. 86 pts randomised. (286 pts had successful laparoscopic transcystic stone clearance from a total of 372 pts). Exclusion criteria: ERCP prior to referral for LC. CBD diameter less than 7 mm at LC or if bilioenteric drainage required at same time.
Interventions	41 pts randomised to laparoscopic choledochotomy with or without biliary drainage with T‐tube or stent. 45 pts randomised to postoperative ERCP during same admission.
Outcomes	Mortality, morbidity, bile leak, stone clearance rates, re‐operation rate, hospital stay.
Notes
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Low risk	Randomised.
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Low risk	Phone call to the trial centre available 24 hours a day.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Not possible.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk	None.
Incomplete outcome data	Low risk	No significant missing data.
For‐profit bias	Low risk	Appears free of for‐profit support.
Other bias	Low risk	None.