Objective To develop hepatic surgical planning software for hepatic operation on deciding the rational operational scheme and simulating procedures before the operation to accomplish the precise liver resection and decrease the operational risk. Methods3D-econstruction of liver was restored from spiral computed tomography (CT) data by using LiVirtue software. The liver and its anatomic structures were reconstructed to illuminate the location of the tumor and its related vessels to design a rational operational scheme. The virtul results, such as liver volume, hepatic sections, anatomy of portal vein and hepatic veins or possible operation plans, were compared with the actual situations during the operations. Results3D models of liver, tumor and their relative vessels were reconstructed successfully. Preoperative planning and intra-perative navigation based on the models ensured the safety of liver resection in our 32 cases of right lobe tumors. This preoperative simulation allowed surgeons to dissect the liver with reduced complications. These models could be also viewed and manipulated on personal computers.ConclusionThe LiVirtue is very helpful in the hepatic surgery, for clearly disclosing hepatic structures, rationally deciding operation schemes, virtually simulating the operations. This preoperative estimation from 3D model of liver benefits a lot to complicated liver resection.