To assess the outcome of the first 400 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) in Akureyri Central Hospital (FSA), Iceland.We carried out a prospective study of LCs performed between July 1992 and February 2001. Primary endpoints were complication- and conversion rate, hospital stay and duration of convalescence.A total of 426 operations were performed in the period. In 26 cases it was decided beforehand to perform an open cholecystectomy (OC). A LC was begun on 400 patients. Indication for operation was acute cholecystitis in 41 cases (10,3%) and an elective LC was performed in 359 (89,7%) cases. Conversion to OC was required in sixteen (4%) cases with a conversion rate in acutely performed LCs of 12,2% versus 3,1% in elective LCs. Mean hospital stay after LC was 3,6 days (1-45) versus 12,3 days (4-31) after OC. Mean operation time was 89 minutes (45-270) in the first 100 LCs versus 75 minutes (30-180) in the last 100 LCs. Duration of convalescence of patients undergoing LC was 13,5 days (4-70). Complication rate in LCs was 10% (40/400). Four patients required a reoperation.Our results show that LC is a safe procedure in FSA. Conversion rate to OC, complication rate and duration of convalescence stands good comparison to other studies.