2.6. Statistical analysis

All the meta-analyses were conducted using the software Review Manager 5.3 and STATA16.0. Dichotomous outcomes were calculated with a 95%CI as well as OR. ERCP sessions were analysed using the Mean Difference. These were analysed through a random-effects model or fixed-effects model depending on the heterogeneity between the studies. Cochran Q test and I² test statistics were used to assess the heterogeneity, a P-value < .1 was defined as indicating the existence of heterogeneity [31,37]. p < .05 was defined as statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by deleting one study at a time to evaluate the stability of the overall results. The total ERCP times were calculated by the number of patients and mean ERCP times per patient. The cost analysis was performed by converting Eurodollars to United States dollars for studies [29]. The exchange rate depended on the month of publication. Publication bias was evaluated by Egger’s test. The student’s t-test was used to calculate the mean and standard deviation.