Are laparoscopic cholecystectomy and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery gallbladder preserving cholecystolithotomy truly comparable? A propensity matched study

Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics after propensity score matching

Variable	NOTES group (n = 86)	LA group (n = 86)	P value
Age, n (%)			0.88
≤ 60 yr	51 (59.3)	50 (58.1)
> 60 yr	35 (40.7)	36 (41.2)
Sex, n (%)			0.53
Male	55 (63.9)	51 (59.3)
Female	31 (36.1)	35 (40.7)
Total bilirubin levels1, n (%)			0.72
0-25	83 (96.5)	81 (94.2)
> 25	3 (3.5)	5 (5.8)
Temperature2, n (%)			0.75
≤ 37.2℃	6 (6.9)	5 (5.8)
> 37.2℃	80 (93.1)	81 (94.2)
Gallbladder stones, n (%)			0.75
≤ 3	6 (6.9)	5 (5.8)
> 3 (or Mud-like gallstones)	80 (93.1)	81 (94.2)

¹Total bilirubin levels, reference: 0-25 μmol/L.

²Baseline temperature, reference: 36.3-37.2 ℃.

The data are presented in the form n (%). NOTES: Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.