Objective: To investigate the clinical value of using the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative management of patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy for small liver cancer. Methods: The clinical data of 50 patients undergoing laparoscopic resection for small liver cancer from January 2016 to December 2017 were analyzed. Of the patients, 24 cases received ERAS protocols during perioperative period (ERAS group) and 26 cases received conventional perioperative treatment (control group). The main clinical variables between the two groups of patients were compared. Results: The preoperative clinical data of the two groups of patients were comparable. In ERAS group compared with control group, the intraoperative blood loss and operative time showed no significant difference (both P>0.05), while the time to postoperative anal gas passage and length of postoperative hospital stay were significantly shortened, the total hospitalization cost was significantly reduced and the incidence of complications was significantly decreased (all P<0.05); the QoR-15 scores for recovery quality and C-reactive protein levels on postoperative day 1, 3 and 5 in ERAS group were significantly better than those in control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Using ERAS concept during perioperative period in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy for small liver cancer can effectively reduce surgical trauma, shorten hospital stay, reduce hospitalization costs and surgical complications, and thereby accelerate the patient's recovery.