OBJECTIVES: To compare the risk of post operative subhepatic collection and duration of hospital stay with and without drain after elective open cholecystectomy. DESIGN: Comparative study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective comparative study was conducted in Surgical Unit-II of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi over a period of 18 months from Jun 2007 to Dec 2008. Adult patients undergoing elective open cholecystectomy were included after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. 60 patients were divided in two groups of 30 patients each. Non-probability convenience sampling was used and patients were included in two groups on alternate basis. In group A, subhepatic drain was placed after cholecystectomy and in group B, no drain was placed. Main outcome measures were to compare the risk of post- operative subhepatic collection and post operative duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: Post-operative sub-hepatic collection occurred in two (6.6 %) patients of group A and in two (6.6 %) patients of group B. Mean duration of post operative hospital stay was 3.40 days in group A and 2.27 days in group B. CONCLUSION: There is no statistically significant difference in post operative sub hepatic collection and post operative hospital stay in cholecystectomy with and without drain. Placing of drainage as routine after elective cholecystectomy has no advantage, therefore it should be avoided.