Objective To observe the effect of goal‑directed fluid therapy (GDFT) on hemodynamics and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) during laparoscopic hepatectomy. Methods A total of 40 patients, aged 18 to 71 years, who were scheduled for laparoscopic hepatectomy under general anesthesia were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into two groups (n=20): a stroke volume variation (SVV) and cardiac index (CI) directed treatment group (group S) and a central venous pressure (CVP) directed group (group C). Both patients were under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and underwent radial artery and internal jugular vein punctures. In group S, SVV and CI were monitored through the LiDCOrapidV2 system connected to the radial artery, while in group C, CVP was monitored through a pressure transducer connected to an internal jugular vein catheter. Their general information, operation time, exbubation time, and obstructive time of the portal vein were recorded. Both groups were compared for mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, the concentration of blood lactic acid (Lac), blood glucose, and rSO2 when entry into the operating room (T0), immediately after pneumoperitoneum (T1), 10 min before hepatectomy (T2), 10 min after pneumoperitoneum (T3), and at the end of pneumoperitoneum (T4). Furthermore, their volumes of intraoperative fluid inflow and outflow, norepinephrine dosage and postoperative recovery (time to out‑of‑bed activity, time to anal exhaust, length of hospitalization stay, and the incidences of nausea, vomiting, and postoperative infection) were also recorded. Results At T2 and T3, the heart rate and MAP of both groups decreased compared with those at T0. Group S showed lower heart rate but higher MAP than group C (P<0.05). Compared with those at T0, the levels of Lac and blood glucose increased at T2 and T3 in group C, and the levels of Lac and blood glucose in group C were higher than those in group S (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in rSO2 between the two groups at each time‑point (P>0.05). Compared with group C, total volume of fluid, total crystalloid volume, blood loss and norepinephrine doses significantly decreased in group S, but the volume of colloid increased (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in urine volume between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with group C, group S showed markedly shortened time to our‑of‑bed activity, time to anal exhaust, and length of hospitalization stay (P<0.05); the incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting and postoperative infection also decreased (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in other indexes (P>0.05). Conclusions During laparoscopic hepatectomy, GDFT guided by SVV and CI is safe and effective, with more stable hemodynamics, better gastrointestinal function recovery, shorter postoperative length of hospitalization stay, and better short‑term outcomes. It also can maintain the balance of cerebral oxygen supply and demand.