We evaluated the usefulness of synthetic absorbable sutures (Vicryl) in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) after hepatectomy. A rat model of 60% partial hepatectomy was used. Bleeding from the cut surface of the liver was controlled by using two suture types: silk and Vicryl. In the Vicryl group, the lesser omentum was slightly adherent to the cut surface of the liver, while in the silk group, the suture remained, and severe adhesions were found. The number of Staphylococcus aureus was significantly larger in the silk group. We compared a group of patients (n = 125) who underwent hepatectomy using silk with one (n = 188) using Vicryl. The respective incidences of SSI and infection on the cut surface of the liver in the Vicryl group (3.2, 1.6%) were significantly lower than in the silk group (11.2, 8.8%). In accordance with the results of multivariate analysis, duration of operation, use of silk sutures and the complication of bile leakage were selected as independent factors. The risk of SSI in the silk group was 3.4 times that in the Vicryl group. The use of synthetic absorbable sutures, instead of silk sutures, in all the procedures of hepatectomy contributed significantly to the prevention of SSI.