Objective To compare fentanyl and sufentanil in total intravenous anesthesia for liver resection. Methods 100 patients undergoing liver resection were randomly received either sufentanil (group S, n = 50) anesthesia or fentanyl (group C, n = 50). Hemodynamic variables, time to spontaneous eye opening and extubation were recorded. VAS-scale was used to assess postoperative pain. The incidence of nausea & vomiting, agitation and respiratory depression was recorded and compared. Results Patients in group S had a more stable hemodynamic variables, and the incidence of postoperative pain (VAS: group S 4. 2± 1.1, group C 6. 1 ± 1.2), agitation (group S 2 cases, group C 11 cases) and respiratory depression (group S 1 case, group C 5 cases)was lower. Conclusions Both sufentanil and fentanyl were safe and efficacious in total intravenous anesthesia for liver resection. Compared with fentanyl, Sufentanil had higher hemodynamic stability, and lower incidence of postoperative pain, respiratory depression and agitation.