Total intravenous anaesthesia for direct laryngoscopy was investigated in 40 patients, randomized into four groups of 10 patients each. First, propofol infusion was compared to thiopentone combined with midazolam. Next, a comparison of propofol infusion with methohexitone infusion was undertaken. The propofol group showed significantly lower peroperative blood pressure compared to the thiopentone/midazolam group. The second propofol group required significantly less alfentanil to stabilize the blood pressure, compared to the methohexitone group. Completeness of recovery, assessed by means of a coin counting test, was faster in the propofol group compared to the thiopentone/midazolam group, while no difference could be demonstrated between the second propofol group and the methohexitone group. It is concluded that propofol seems to be superior to both thiopentone/midazolam and methohexitone with respect to the stability of peroperative blood pressure. Concerning recovery, propofol is superior to thiopentone/midazolam, but offers no advantage over methohexitone.