Abstract: Objective To evaluate the anesthetic effects of etomidate on elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic total hysterectomy. MethodsA total of 40 patients who scheduled to undergo laparoscopic total hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups: an etomidate group (Group E) and a propofol group (Group P) (n=20). During surgery, Group E was treated with etomidate for anesthetic induction and maintenance, while propofol was used in Group P. Then, their heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MAP), and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at different time points. The duration of operation, time of extubation and treatment time in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) were recorded. The levels of serum cortisol were detected at different time points. The adverse reactions in both groups were recorded. ResultsGroup E showed significantly longer time of extubation and treatment time in PACU than Group P (P<0.05). During anesthetic induction and maintenance, MAP and HR were markedly higher in Group E than Group P (P<0.05), while Group E presented markedly higher SpO2 than Group P after extubation (P<0.05). Compared with Group P, the level of serum cortisol in Group E was decreased significantly after surgery (P<0.05) but returned to pre-operative level 24 h after surgery (P>0.05). Group E showed lower incidence of injection pain than Group P (P<0.05). ConclusionEtomidate is an effective anesthetic agent, and dose not result in increases in the incidence of complication, which is safe and effective for elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic total hysterectomy.