Objective: To investigate the advantages of using enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative management of hepatectomy for primary liver cancer. Methods: Eighty-one patients with primary liver cancer admitted from July 2015 to June 2016 were designated to ERAS group (n=40) and control group (n=41) by using a random number table. Patients in ERAS group received perioperative management directed by ERAS concept, while those in control group underwent conventional perioperative management. The main clinical variables between the two groups of patients were compared. Results: The general perioperative data of the two groups of patients showed no significant difference (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in surgical types, operative time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications between the two groups of patients, but the time to postoperative bowel function recovery, NRS scores, time to drainage tube removal, and length of postoperative hospital stay in ERAS group were all significantly superior to those in control group (all P<0.05). All patients were followed up for one month to two months, and there was no hospital readmission or reoperation in any of them within 30 d after surgery. Conclusion: Using ERAS concept in perioperative management of liver cancer resection is safe and effective, and it can accelerate the postoperative recovery of the patients.