Background and objectives: Routine drainage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is still controversial. The present meta-analysis was performed to assess the role of drains to reduce complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: An electronic search of the Medline, Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus and Cochrane library database from January 1990 to June 2013 was performed to identify randomized clinical trials that compare prophylactic drainage with no drainage in LC. Odds ratio for qualitative variables and standardized mean difference for continuous variables were calculated. Results: Twelve randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1939 patients randomized to drain (960) versus no drain (979). Morbidity was lower in the no drain group (odds ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.26-3.10; p=0.003). Wound infection rate was lower in the no drain group (odds ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval 1.22-4.51; p=0.01). Abdominal pain 24 hours after surgery was less severe in the no drain group (standardized mean difference 2.30, 95% confidence interval 1.27 to 3.34, p