Liver resection is the main method of treatment of hepatic space-occupying lesion,and pleural effusion is one of the common complications. With the technological development in recent years,this paper analyzes the pleural effusion after liver resection from the aspects of hypoproteinemia,diaphragm defects,inflammatory response,portopulmonary shunt,and hepatitis B immune complex deposition,summarizes the causes of pleural effusion after liver resection and its preventive measures,and explores the effective ways to reduce the incidence of pleural effusion after liver resection,with the purpose of providing guidance for future clinical practice.