To compare the effects of desflurane, sevoflurane, isoflurane and enflurane on cardiovascular response to surgical procedures and recovery from anesthesia. Method: The 40 patients scheduled for abdominal hysterectomy under balanced anesthesia were randomly divided into desflurane (D), sevoflurane (S), isofluane(I)and enflurane(E)groups. After induction of anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, 6% of desflurane, 2% of sevoflurane,1. 15% of isoflurane and 1.7% of enflurane in oxygen and nitrous oxide(1:2) were inhaled in D,S,I and Egroups, respectively. The fractional end tidal alveolar concentration of inhaled anesthetics(Fa) was adjusted to 1MAC during the maintenance of anesthesia. 2?g?kg~(-1)?h~(-1) of fentanyl was infused simultaneously, and the rate of infusion was decreased by 50 percent after infusion for half an hour. Heart rate(HR), systolic pressure(SP), diastolic pressure(DP), SpO_2, and P_(ET)CO_2 were monitored continuously. Volume of minute ventilation(Ve)was observed before induction of anesthesia and 5, 15, 30, 45min after extubation. The recovery parameters of conciousness were also observed. Result: There was no significant difference among the four groups in hemodynamics. Within 30rain after extubation, Ve in I and E groups were lower than that before inductoin of anesthesia and that in D and S groups. The recovery time in D and S groups were significantly shorter thanthat in E and I groups. Conclusion: In balanced anesthesia,desflurane can effectively inhibit the cadiovascular response to surgical procedures and the recovery from anesthsia is faster than any other vaporized anesthetics.