ObjectiveTo summarize the mechanism of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) and the research progress in targeting NETs to reduce HIRI, providing valuable reference for reducing HIRI. MethodThe related literatures at home and abroad about the role of NETs in the pathogenesis of HIRI and target NETs to alleviate HIRI were retrieved and reviewed. ResultsHIRI usually appeared in the process of liver surgery and was a common clinical problem, which occured in situations such as liver surgery, organ transplantation, liver ischemia and so on. This kind of injury would lead to tissue necrosis, inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which was a major cause of hepatic dysfunction and multiple organ failure after hepatic surgery, greatly increases the complications and mortality after hepatic surgery. NETs played a crucial role in the aseptic inflammatory response induced by hepatic ischemia/reperfusion. During hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, neutrophils promoted inflammatory cascade reactions and cytokine storms by forming NETs, exacerbating damage caused by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. At present, some experimental and clinical studies had shown that inhibiting the formation of NETs or eliminating the formed NETs could alleviate the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve the prognosis. ConclusionsTargeting NETs may become a new method for treating hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. In the future, it is foreseeable that more experiments and clinical trials will be conducted on targeted NETs for the treatment of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. And gradually establish more comprehensive and effective treatment strategies, thereby providing new ways to improve the prognosis of hepatic surgery patients in clinical practice.