Introduction: At present there is a strong emphasis on carrying out more elective day-case surgery. This paper presents a series of major ear cases performed on a day-case basis.

 Method: This is a retrospective review of outcome. Surgery was performed over 10 years at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital (part of the East Kent NHS Trust, UK).

 Results: Over 10 years 253 major ear cases were performed. The unplanned admission rate for overnight stay was 2.8 per cent and the rate of short-period transfers to in-patient wards (for less than a six-hour stay) was 2 per cent.

 Conclusions: Our experience shows that major ear surgery, including mastoidectomy, is safe on a day-case basis in all age groups. With the advent of new anaesthetic agents recovery is faster, and modern anti-emetic cover for post-operative nausea and vomiting makes nearly all such major ear surgery feasible as day-case procedures.