ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of opioid-sparing analgesic techniques in terms of analgesic potential, incidence of complications and quality of recovery in liver surgery. MethodsThe PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the objects from inception to August 2023. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 20 RCTs involving 1 347 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that opioid-sparing techniques could significantly reduce pain scores at rest and during movement from 2h to 48h postoperatively, opioid consumption within 24h (MD=−11.17, 95%CI −14.62 to −7.71, P<0.01) and 48h (MD=−7.19, 95%CI −10.06 to −4.33, P<0.01), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) (OR=0.68, 95%CI 0.50 to 0.91, P=0.01) and wound infection (OR=0.42, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.98, P=0.04), as well as reduced time to bowel recovery (MD=−12.92, 95%CI −21.24 to −4.61, P<0.01) and decreased length of hospital stay (LOS) (MD=−0.90, 95%CI 1.32 to −0.49, P<0.01). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in the incidence of excessive sedation, pruritus, hypotension, headache and respiratory depression. Time to out-of-bed activity and patient satisfaction were also similar between groups. ConclusionOpioid-sparing techniques are effective in relieving postoperative pain and reducing opioid use, with additional potential in reducing postoperative nausea or vomiting, wound infection, time to bowel recovery and length of hospital stay.