Objective To observe the effects of shenfu injection (SFI) on the awakening quality of the patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis undergoing splenectomy under general anethesia. Methods Forty patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and hepatic insufficiency (ASA classⅡ~Ⅲ) underwent splenectomy by general anesthesia. Patients were all sent into the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) shortly after the operation with unconscious and no spontaneously breathing. They were randomly divided into two groups: SFI treatment group (Group SFI, n =20) and normal saline controlled group (Group NSC, n = 20). SFI group were treated with SFI (1 mL/kg, i. v.) in 10 minutes, and NSC group were treated with normal saline (1 mL/kg,i.v.). The time of eyes opening, extubation of tracheal catheter and the detention time of PACU were recorded. The heart rate (HR) and the average artery presses (MAP) were monitored at 4 time points: before SFI and normal saline administration, 5 min, 15 min, and 45 min after administration. The incidence of restlessness during the patients awakening period was also recorded. Results The time of eyes opening, extubation and the detention time of PACU of SFI group show no significant difference compared with the NSC group (P > 0.05). SFI and normal saline intravenous injection did not cause significant changes on HR and MAP at the time of 5 min , 15 min and 45 min compared to the time of before administration (P > 0.05). The incidence of restlessness during the patients resuscitation period in SFI group were lower than in NSC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Shenfu injection can effectively improve the awakening quality and decrease the incidence of restlessness of the patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis undergoing splenectomy under general anesthesia during the awakening period in PACU.