To counteract the decrease in blood pressure after release of the aortic cross-clamp, 2 mg etilefrine hydrochloride (Effortil; Boehringer Ingelheim) was administered intravenously to 13 patients undergoing aortofemoral bypass operations. It caused a statistically significant increase in mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left and right ventricular stroke work index. No significant changes were found in total peripheral resistance.