Outcomes of surgical resection of gallbladder cancer in patients presenting with jaundice: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION Preoperative jaundice is considered a relative contraindication to radical gallbladder cancer (GBC) resection due to poor prognosis and high postoperative morbidity. Recent reports have indicated that aggressive surgery may improve long-term survival for patients with advanced GBC who present with obstructive jaundice. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare postoperative outcomes among jaundiced and non-jaundiced patients with resectable GBC. METHODS An electronic search was performed using several Medical Subject Headings terms: cholecyst, gallbladder, tumor, cancer, carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, neoplasia, neoplasm, jaundice, and icterus. Overall survival after surgery was the primary outcome; resectability and postoperative morbidity were the secondary outcomes. RESULTS Overall survival was shorter among patients who presented with jaundice (Hazard ratio [HR]: 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64-2.97; P