OBJECTIVE To computer the rate of morbidity and unplanned hospitalization amongst patients undergoing Day Care Surgery at this institute. METHODS Retrospective study of all adult general surgical patients undergoing planned day care surgical procedures between November 1996 and December 1997. RESULTS Six hundred and seventy four patients underwent ambulatory operations over one year. The morbidity rate was 6.2% and the rate of unplanned hospitalization was 13.6%. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that timing of surgery and short duration operation on carefully selected patients is likely to reduce hospitalization. There is great scope of Day Care Surgery in developing countries and a major effort will be required to popularize it in Pakistan, which include development of infrastructure and patient education.