ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of etomidate and propofol on inflammatory cytokines and cortisol for patients with lung adenocarcinoma. MethodSixty patients scheduled for lung cancer surgery under general anesthesia were studied. All patients were randomly divided into an etomidate total intravenous anesthesia group (group E, 30 patients, 16 males and 14 females at age of 58.0±5.0 years) and a propofol total intravenous anesthesia group (group P, 30 patients, 17 males and 13 females at age of 55.0±5.0 years), with 30 patients in each group. ResultsThe concentration of IL-6 in serum of patients in the two groups at time points T1, T2 and T3 was significantly higher than those at time point T0 (P < 0.01). The concentration of IL-10 and TNF-α in serum of patients at time points T1 and T2 was significantly higher than those at time point T0 (P < 0.01). And the difference of the concentration of TNF-α in serum of patients at time points T0 and T3 was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The level of Cor of patients in the group E at time point T0 was slightly higher than those at time point T1, but lower than that at time points T2 and T3. There was no statistical difference in the concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum of patients between the two groups. The level of IL-10 of patients in the group E at time points T2 and T3 was lower than those in the group P (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed at the other time points. The concentration of Cor in the patients in the group E at time point T1 was lower than that in the group P (P < 0.01), but no significant difference was observed either at the other time points. ConclusionThe effect of etomidate used for maintenance of general anesthesia on the inflammatory factors is essentially similar to that of propofol.