One-Stage versus Two-Stage ERCP followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the Management of Pediatric Choledocholithiasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The optimal approach to managing pediatric choledocholithiasis remains a subject of ongoing debate. Both single-stage strategies, combining laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with bile duct clearance via intraoperative ERCP and sphincterotomy, and two-stage approaches, typically involving preoperative ERCP followed by interval LC, are widely employed. While prior meta-analyses in predominantly adult populations suggest comparable safety profiles between these strategies, pediatric-specific data remain lacking in consensus.