Conservative Management Versus Early Cholecystectomy for Gallstone Disease: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract Objective: While most individuals with gallstone disease remain asymptomatic, symptoms of gallstone disease range from biliary pain to acute cholecystitis. Surgery is a popular choice of treatment, but evidence has also suggested conservative management as a safe and viable approach. We aim to investigate the evidence on conservative management versus early cholecystectomy for the management of gallstone disease. Methods: We searched electronic databases to retrieve and include all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that analyzed the efficacy and safety of