In an attempt to attenuate the cardiovascular pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation, 30 patients presenting for routine ophthalmic surgery were studied and were randomly allocated into two groups: group A (n=15) received direct laryngeal/tracheal lignocaine spray immediately before intubation; and group B (n=15) received orolaryngeal lignocaine spray before the induction of anaesthesia. In both groups, general anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone 3–5 mg kg−1, followed by atracurium 0.6 mg kg−1 to facilitate tracheal intubation. Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation caused a significant increase in heart rate, by 28% in group A and 23% in group B (P<0.05 in both), and in diastolic blood pressure, by 28% in group A and 24% in group B (P<0.05 in both). In group A, the systolic blood pressure also increased significantly (by 18%) after intubation, but there was no significant change in group B. In addition, the plasma lignocaine concentrations remained well below the toxic range in both groups. It was concluded that topical lignocaine administration as an orolaryngeal spray before the induction of anaesthesia is effective in reducing but not abolishing the pressor response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation