Abstract Introduction The results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed as an outpatient procedure were evaluated in a prospective study. Methods Initially, only well motivated and healthy patients were offered outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After 50 procedures, all patients referred to the hospital, except those with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade IV and those living alone, were included. Some 200 procedures were studied. Results Twelve patients (6 per cent) were admitted, and 188 (94 per cent) were discharged 4–8 h after operation. Fifteen patients (8 per cent) who had early discharge were readmitted, nine with complications; in six no complications were documented. The frequency of minor complications was 2 per cent and of major complications 5 per cent. Some 173 patients who had successful outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy completed a questionnaire: 164 (95 per cent) characterized their experience as excellent, five (3 per cent) as good, two (1 per cent) as intermediate and two (1 per cent) as unacceptable. Discussion This high achievement of day-case treatment, even in patients with ASA grade 111, is explained by a new anaesthetic regimen together with good surgical technique and close follow-up.