Randomisation and masking
RECRUITMENT
Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either laparoscopic cholecystectomy or conservative management using the remote, computer based randomisation application at the Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials. The minimisation algorithm used recruitment site, sex (male, female), and age (<35, 35-64, ≥65 years). A random element (20% chance) was incorporated into the minimisation algorithm. Participants, investigators, and the trial statistician were not masked to treatment allocation.