Objective To study the effect of target controlled infusion of etomidate and propofol during general anesthesia induction period on haemodynamics and stress by cerebral state index (CSI) in elderly hypertensive patients. Methods Forty ASAⅠor Ⅱelderly hypertensive patients undergoing selective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into two groups by random digits table method with 20 cases each: propofol group and etomidate group. CSI, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, blood glucose, concentration of plasma cortisol in the two groups were observed before induction of anesthesia, at 1 min before intubation, and at 1 min, 3 min and 5 min after intubation. Results The level of CSI, MAP, heart rate, blood glucose, cortisol between two groups at before induction of anesthesia had no significant difference (P>0.05).The levels of CSI in two groups at 1 min before intubation, and at 1 min, 3min after intubation were significantly lower than that at before induction of anesthesia, but compared with that at 1 min before tracheal intubation, CSI was significantly higher in two group at 1 min, and 3 min after intubation, and there was significant difference (P<0.05). The level of MAP in etomidate group was higher than that in propofol group at 1 min before intubation, and at 1 min , 3 min and 5 min after intubation: (85.9 ± 9.2) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (70.8 ± 8.1) mmHg, (112.6 ± 9.8) mmHg vs. (90.6 ± 10.8) mmHg, (96.5 ± 8.2) mmHg vs. (86.5 ± 8.6) mmHg, (95.2 ± 8.3) mmHg vs. (80.6 ± 8.7) mmHg, and there was significant difference (P<0.05). The level of heart rate at 1 min before intubation in propofol group was lower than that before induction of anesthesia and that at the same period in etomidate group: (65.1 ± 6.2) bpm vs. (85.8 ± 10.2) bpm, (78.2 ± 6.7) bpm], and there was significant difference (P<0.05), while there was no significant differenc in the level of heart rate in etomidate group at each time point (P>0.05). Compared with before induction of anesthesia, the concentrations of blood glucose and cortisol at 1min before intubation in patients of the two groups decreased significantly, while glucose and cortisol concentrations at 1 min, 3 min and 5 min after intubation in two group significantly increased , and there was significant difference (P<0.05);cortisol concentration in etomidate group at 1 min before intubation and 1 min, 3 min, 5 min after intubation was significantly lower than that at the same period in propofol group:(260.6 ± 39.6) nmol/L vs. (290.2 ± 35.6) nmol/L, (380.3 ± 37.6) nmol/L vs.(410.8 ± 46.6) nmol/L, (361.2 ± 25.2) nmol/L vs. (392.6 ± 31.6) nmol/L, (352.3 ± 25.6) nmol/L vs. (370.3 ± 28.8) nmol/L, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05). Conclusions During induction of general anesthesia with the guidance of cerebral state index, target controlled infusion of etomidate has more stable hemodynamics, and also attenuates the stress response to tracheal intubation in elderly hypertensive patients.