Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of precise hepatic pedicle anatomic hepatectomy and the irregular hepatecto-my method, and to analyze the clinical application value of precise hepatic pedicle dissection. Methods The clinical data of 120 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated in our hospital from Mar. 2009 to Mar. 2013 were analyzed retrospectively, and they were divided into the experimental group and the control group according to the patients’ clinical characteristics and their needs of treatment. The experimental group were given precise hepatic pedicle dissection, while the control group were given irregular liver excision. The effect, complications and recurrence rate of the two methods were compared. Results The operation time, the volume of blood during operation, hospitalization time and the cost of hospitalization of the experimental group were were less than those of the control group with statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 05). The incidence of complications in the experimental group was 10. 0%, recurrence rate was 13. 3%;whereas in the control group, the incidence rate was 33. 3%, the recurrence rate was 35%, it is of significant differences between the two groups (P<0. 05). The aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group with a statistically significant difference (P<0. 05). Conclusion The precise hepatic pedicle dissection is of significant efficacy, low complication and relapse rate, and it is of certain clinical application value.