Objective To investigate the extent of hepatic ischemia reperfusion (HIR) injury in rat cirrhotic liver under different ischemic time，and find the time limit under which the rat with cirrhotic liver could tolerate. Methods At first，the cirrhosis of the rat were induced by carbon tetrachloride（CCl4）injected subcutaneously. Then these rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group A(n=6) was made by sham operation, group B, C, D(n=16) were respectively given 20, 30, 40min hepatic warm ischemia. The 7day survival rate, AST, ALT, TNF and liver, pulmonary pathology were observed. Results The 7-day survival rate was decreased with the increase of hepatic ischemic time. The survival rate of group B, C, D were respectively 100%, 60%, 40%. Between group C, D and group B there were significant differences（P＜0.05）. The level of AST and ALT in group D were （2 448.4±942.3）u/L and （1 189.0±403.4）u/L respectively, and those in group C were （2 185.1±1 732.9）u/L and （1 183.5±707.2）u/L respectively, which were higher than those in group B and A significantly（P＜0.01）. The level of TNF was increased significantly 4hr after reperfusion, as compared with that before operation 〔(0.177±0.139）u/ml〕, P＜0.01. TNF of group B, C, D were （0.399±0.216）u/ml, （0.671±0.351）u/ml and （0.789±0.371）u/ml respectively. At the same time the level of TNF in group C, D was higher than that in group B, A significantly（P＜0.01）. Liver and lung pathology showed increased damage with increasing ischemia. Conclusion Hepatic injury is induced by HIR in rats with cirrhotic liver, and its severity increases with the increase of ischemic time. There is a certain hepatic ischemic time between 20min and 30min, which can be tolerated by the rats with cirrhotic liver. TNF may be used as an indicator，showing the degree of HIR injury and foreseeing the result of injury.