Objective To analyze the current status of day surgery in West China Hospital of Sichuan University and compare it with the Recommended Catalogue of Day Surgery (2022 Edition), in order to provide reference for the update and expansion of day surgery procedures in hospitals. Methods The day surgical procedures carried out in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2009 to July 2023 were collected. The day surgical procedures were classified based on surgical specialties, types of procedures, methods of operation, and surgical grading, etc. The day surgical procedures in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were compared with those in the Recommended Catalogue of Day Surgery (2022 Edition). Results A total of 576 types of daytime surgeries were carried out in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, involving 15 specialties. A total of 662 types of day surgeries were recommend in the nationally recommended catalogue for daytime surgery, involving 11 specialties. Among the nationally recommended surgical procedures, West China Hospital of Sichuan University had carried out 233 types of surgical procedures, and 26 additional types of surgical procedures were carried out as outpatient surgeries. According to the classification of surgical difficulty, the Level Ⅱ and Ⅲ surgeries were mainly carried out in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and the Level Ⅱ surgeries were mainly recommend in the nationally recommended catalogue for day surgery. Conclusions The high-quality development of day surgery in China should not be limited to the supplement of surgical procedures. It is necessary to strive to increase the proportion of minimally invasive and fourth-level surgeries while ensuring medical quality and safety, and improve the overall medical level of day surgery.