ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility, safety, cost, and patient satisfaction of ambulatory laparo-scopic cholecystectomy(ALC). MethodsThe clinical data of patients who divided into ALC group(678 cases) and in-patient laparoscopic cholecystectomy(IPLC) group(1 534 cases) in our hospital from April 2011 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The operative time, conversion rate, complication rate, hospitalization time, cost of hospi-talization, rehospitalization rate, and patient satisfaction were analyzed and evaluated. ResultsThere were no significant differences of the operative time, postoperative complication rate, and rehospitalization rate between the 2 groups(P > 0.05). The conversion rate(0.44%), and hospitalization time[(1.2±0.5)d] of the ALC group were significantly lower or shorter than those of IPLC group[3.19%, (4.8±1.3) d], P < 0.05. The direct, indirect health care costs, and the total costs of the ALC group were (6 555.6±738.7), (230.0±48.0), and (8 856.0±636.0) yuan, respec-tively; and lower than those of the IPLC group[(7 863.71, 014.6), (973.0±136.5), and(8 856.0±636.0)yuan], P < 0.05. ConclusionALC is safe and feasible, and could shorten the hospitalization time, lower the medical cost, speed up the bed turnover, and increase the efficiency in the use of health resource.