Patients who underwent cholecystectomy as a first step had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay ( median , 5 days [ interquartile range { IQR } , 1-8 ] vs median , 8 days [ IQR , 6-12 ] ; P < .001 ) , with fewer common duct investigations ( 25 vs 71 ; P < .001 ) , no significant difference in morbidity or quality of life .