The haemodynamic effects of anaesthetic induction with midazolam, fentanyl and pancuronium bromide were studied in two groups of patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery: group A (10 patients receiving 0.2 mg X kg-1 midazolam) and group B (9 patients receiving 0.3 mg X kg-1 midazolam). Haemodynamic parameters were measured before induction after fluid loading and 15 min after induction. Heart rate, mean right atrial pressure, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances, mean pulmonary wedge pressure and right ventricular stroke work index remained steady. On the other hand, mean arterial and pulmonary arterial pressures, systolic, cardiac and left ventricular stroke work indices fell significantly in both groups. However there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.