Objective To evaluate the value of combined hepatectomy in radical resection for hilar cholangiocarinoma. Methods The clinical data and follow-up data of 67 patients of resection for hilar cholangiocarinoma in Henan Tumor Hospital from June 2005 to october 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Results According to intraoperative exploration situation and bismuth types, tumor resection was combined performed with hepatectomy (n＝38)or non-hepatectomy (n＝29). The rate of R0 resection was 55.3% in hepatectomy group(n＝21) and 34.5% in non-hepatectomy group(n＝10), and the difference was significant（P＝0.024）. The incidence of complications were 39.5% in hepatectomy group(n＝15) and 13.4% in non-hepatectomy group(n＝4), and one patient with liver and kidney failure died in hospital. The 1, 3, 5 years of survival rate were 89.3%,53.6% and 32.1% respectively in R0 group (n＝31) and 69.7%,30% and 10% respectively in R1～R2 group(n＝36), there were significant differences in the postoperative survival rate between both groups（P＝0.018). The 1, 3, 5 years of survival rate were 81.8%,48.5% and 24.2% in hepatectomy group and 75%,32% and 16% in non-hepatectomy group respectively, and the differences were significant（P＝0.037). Conclusions Aggressive resection including combined hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma can play an important role for curative effect and long term survival rate.