Objective: To investigate the safety of intraoperative warm water bath during liver cancer (HCC) resection and its influence on therapeutic effects. Methods: The clinical data of 35 HCC patients undergoing intraoperative warm water bath (hepatectomy followed by warm water bath of the remaining liver for 1 h) over the past 3 years were reviewed (warm water bath group), which were compared with the data of the selected HCC patients, who underwent liver resection alone (hepatectomy group) or liver resection plus interventional therapy (interventional group) during the same period, with the same number of cases. Results: The levels of immunoglobulin and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) were significantly elevated in warm water bath group after surgery compared with those before surgery (all P<0.05), while no such changes were noted in the other two groups. As for the postoperative recurrence and survival, there were no significant differences between water bath group and interventional group (both P>0.05), but both of which were better than those in hepatectomy group (all P<0.05). The hospitalization costs and postoperative pain were increased in interventional group compared with water bath group and hepatectomy group. There were no significant differences in incidence of postoperative complications among groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Liver resection plus intraoperative warm water bath is a safe and effective method for treatment of HCC, which can provide the patients with enhanced postoperative immune function, reduced recurrence and improved quality of life.