Risk factors associated with complications following hepatic resection were investigated retrospectively in 121 patients between January 1987 and April 1992. Fifty-seven patients recovered uneventfully, but 64 suffered post-operative complications and 15 died within 3 months. All those who died had suffered from hyperbilirubinaemia or bleeding and/or coagulopathy, which were considered critical complications after hepatic resection. Risk factors following hepatic resection were investigated statistically. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that serum levels of cholinesterase, the histology of the remaining liver and the volume of intraoperative blood loss were significantly associated with major complications (odds ratio 0.02, 5.14 and 4.97 respectively). Coexisting liver cirrhosis, deterioration of liver protein synthesis and massive intraoperative blood loss are important risk factors following hepatic resection.