In comparison with other types of therapy, surgical treatment offers the best chance of long-term survival to the patient with a malignant liver disease. It is the only radical therapy of patients with primary or secondary tumors of the liver. Liver surgery has been the subject of great development over the last years. The technique of liver resection entertained principal changes reflecting various technical advancements. The author deals in greater detail with the present terminology of liver resections. The second part of the contribution deals with the proper technique of the operations on the liver with the application of per-operation ultrasonography, ultrasound dissector, radiofrequency ablation, harmonic scalpel, argon coagulation and the spray pump (Tissomat) for the application of fibrin glue. The correct surgical technique, together with the application of technical background, makes a series of large liver resections possible without necessity of blood transfusions. Liver surgery belongs to highly specialized interventions, which should be performed only in centers dealing with full-extent liver surgery.

        Key words: terminology of liver resections – technique