Abstract: AIM:To observe the effect of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamics in hypertensive patients during endotracheal intubation. METHODS: Forty hypertensive patients receiving tracheal intubation under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups (20 cases each), and group D and group C, respectively, received dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) and saline. Heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and bispectral index (BIS) were recorded, respectively, before drug administration (baseline; T0), after drug administration (T1), after induction of anesthesia (T2), immediately after intubation (T3) and 3, 5 and 10 min after intubation (T4, T5, and T6). The dosages of propofol used during anesthesia induction were recorded. RESULTS: In group C, HR, SBP and DBP at T3 and T4 were higher than those at T0 (P<0.05, P<0.01). In group D, there were no significant differences in HR, SBP and DBP between at T3, T4, T5, and at T0. At T3 and T4, HR, SBP and DBP in group D were lower than those in group C at the same time point (P<0.05, P<0.01). At T5, HR and SBP in group D were lower than those in group C (P<0.05). During anesthesia induction, the dosages of propofol in group D (113±22) mg were significantly lower than those in group C (140±25) mg (P<0.01). At T1, the value of BIS in group D (73±4) was significantly lower than that in group C (97±2) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) given 10 min before anesthesia induction significantly attenuates the hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation and reduces the dosages of propofol during anesthesia induction.