OBJECTIVE To develop the protocol of surgical management of cholelithiasis in short-stay hospital. METHODS Surgical treatment of 161 patients with cholelithiasis was analyzed. All of them underwent elective cholecystectomy. Short-stay hospital group included 41 patients. 120 patients were operated in surgical department (group 2). RESULTS Incidence of intraoperative complications was 2.4% and 3.4% in both groups respectively (p>0.05). Postoperative complications were more frequent in group 2 (8.3% vs. 2.4%, p<0.05). Mean hospital-stay was 1 and 4.4 days in both groups respectively. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of chronic calculous cholecystitis is advisable in short-stay hospital. Indications for this approach and its safety in certain patients were determined. The protocol of surgical management of chronic cholecystitis in short-stay hospital was develped.