Abstract: Objective To study the outcome in patient with colorectal cancer and liver metastasis after laparoscopy operation. Methods One hundred and fifteen patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastasis admitted to our hospital from May 2007 to August 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into laparoscopy operation group (n=56) and laparotomy group (n=59). Results No death occurred in two groups within 1 month after operation. The 1 - , 3 - and 5-year survival rate was 82.1%, 41.5% and 14.6% respectively in laparoscopy operation group and 83.2%, 41.2% and 12.2% respectively in laparotomy group (P ＜ 0.05). The 1 - , 3 - and 5-year survival rate was 78.1%, 42.4% and 19.8% respectively in laparotomy group, which was not significantly different from that in laparoscopy operation group (P＞ 0.05). The incidence of complications was 23.21% in both groups whereas that in laparotomy group was 11.86% (P＞ 0.05). Of the 57 primary rectal cancer patients, 33 underwent laparoscopic operation and 24 underwent laparotomy. No significant difference was found in the survival rates of these patients (P＞ 0.05). Conclusion The effect of laparoscopy operation and laparotomy is similar on colorectal cancer and liver metastasis with no significant complications, indicating that laparoscopy operation is a safe procedure for colorectal cancer and liver metastasis.