Hepatic resection of metastatic colorectal carcinoma is widely advocated with 5-year survival rates quoted at 20 to 25 per cent. However, concerns about the morbidity and mortality for this procedure still exist. It is estimated that only 25 per cent of patients potentially eligible for hepatic resection are actually referred for evaluation, possibly secondary to concerns about the morbidity and mortality of the surgical procedure involved. All patients undergoing such resections at the Emory University Affiliated Hospitals between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1989 were reviewed to determine the associated morbidity and mortality. Forty-three patients were identified (23 men, 20 women, ranging in age from 32 to 80 years (mean of 60.8). The average postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 3.2 days (range 1 to 12) and the average hospital stay was 15 days (range 6 to 45). There were no postoperative deaths, and 10 patients (23%) developed significant complications (1 biliary fistula, 2 thrombophlebitis, 3 abscess/wound infections, 1 hepatic insufficiency, 1 pneumothorax, 1 pleural effusion, 1 lobar pulmonary collapse). The occurrence of complications was not related to preoperative liver enzymes, absolute tumor mass present, or associated co-morbid disease. The extent of liver resection, length of operation, and number of units of blood transfused were all correlated with the occurrence of complications (P = 0.01, 0.01, and 0.05, respectively). Likewise, the length of hospital stay and ICU stay were directly related to the extent of hepatic resection (P = 0.05 and 0.09) and number of transfusions (P = 0.05 and 0.01). The length of operation showed such a trend but was not statistically significant (P = 0.2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)