Objective To evaluate the safety and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic and open liver resection between well-matched patient groups.Methods It was retrospectively analyzed in 395 patients who underwent initial liver resection between March 2015 and December 2018.There were 171 males and 224 females,aged from 41 to 65 years old,with an average age of(54±10)years,belonging to LH group(163 cases)and OH group(232 cases).The propensity score matching(PSM)method was used to match the two groups at 1∶1.After matching,there were 133 cases in LH group and 133 cases in OH group.The periopera-tive conditions of the two groups were compared.Results The baseline variables were well balanced between the two groups after PSM(the area under ROC curve was 0.501).The intraoperative blood loss in LH group was 100(50,200)mL,which was significantly less than that 150(100,300)mL of OH group(Z=-3.677,P<0.001).The operation time of LH group was 290(220,397)minutes,significantly longer than 260(215,314)minutes of the OH group(Z=2.824,P=0.005).In LH group,initial passage of flatus,postoperative fluid intake,the time of drainage tube intubation was(2.5±1.1)d,(2.8±1.3)d and(7.5±2.8)d respectively,which was significantly shorter than the OH group,(3.2±1.3)d,(3.9±1.7)d and(9.1±3.3)d(t=-4.455,-6.364,-4.329;P<0.001).The postoperative hospital stay in LH group was(11.6±5.8)d,which was significantly shorter than(14.6±10.6)d in OH group(Z=-2.933,P=0.004).The postoperative complication rate of LH group was 6.8%(9/133),which was significantly lower than 18.0%(24/133)of OH group(x2=7.784,P=0.005).Conclusions In units with mature technology,LH has many advantages for first-time liver resection patients.Compared with OH,LH can promote gastrointestinal function recovery,shorten hospital stay,and effectively reduce the incidence of complications,making it safe and feasible.