Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effects of Chai-Zhi Paishi Decoction on gallbladder function recovery, short-term gallstone recurrence, and related clinical indicators after gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy.Methods This single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial enrolled 80 patients with gallstones who underwent laparoscopic and choledochoscopic gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy at Zhuji Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2023 and April 2025. Eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to a trial group or control group. In addition to conventional treatment, the control group received postoperative ursodeoxycholic acid, whereas the trial group received Chai-Zhi Paishi Decoction. Both treatments lasted 3 months, and the patients were followed for 6 months after surgery. The primary outcomes were gallbladder function indicators, including gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF), gallbladder wall thickness, and fasting cholecystokinin (CCK). Gallstone recurrence within 6 months after surgery was assessed as a short-term outcome. Secondary outcomes included inflammatory factors; hepatobiliary enzymes; lipid and bilirubin metabolism; changes in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores; and safety.Results A total of 73 patients completed follow-up, including 36 in the trial group and 37 in the control group. During the 6-month postoperative follow-up, no gallstone recurrence occurred in the trial group, whereas one patient in the control group experienced recurrence (2.7%); the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). After 6 months, the increase in GBEF, decrease in gallbladder wall thickness, and increase in fasting CCK were greater in the trial group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The decreases in interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and the increase in epidermal growth factor were greater in the trial group. Improvements in liver function, bilirubin indices, and lipid indices were greater in the trial group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The decreases in primary symptom, secondary symptom, and total traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were greater in the trial group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion Chai-Zhi Paishi Decoction may promote gallbladder function recovery and improve inflammation, hepatobiliary function, lipid metabolism, and traditional Chinese medicine symptoms after gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy, with good safety. However, gallstone recurrence at 6 months did not differ significantly between the groups, and longer follow-up is needed to determine its long-term effect on recurrence.