Background The authors found no study to compare the efficacy of bolus dose fentanyl and remifentanil blunting the cardiovascular intubation response in children, so they designed this randomized, double-blind clinical study to assess the effects of remifentanil 2 ug/kg and fentanyl 2 ug/kg by bolus injection on the cardiovascular intubation response in healthy children.Methods One hundred and two children, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1-2 and scheduled for elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia, were randomly divided into one of two groups to receive the following treatments in a double blind manner: remifentanil 2 ug/kg (Group R) and fentanyl 2 ug/kg (Group F) when anesthesia was induced with propofol and vecuronium. The orotracheal intubation was performed using a direct laryngoscope. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded before anesthesia induction (baseline values), immediately before intubation, at intubation and every minute for 5 minutes after intubation. The percent changes of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR relative to baseline values and the rate pressure product (RPP) at every observing point were calculated. The incidences of SBP and HR percent changes >30% of baseline values and RPP >22 000 during the observation were recorded. Results There were no significant differences between groups in the demographic data, baseline values of BP and HR and the intubation time. As compared to baseline values, BP, HR and RPP at intubation and their maximum values during observation increased significantly in Group F, but they all decreased significantly in Group R. BP, HR and RPP at all observed points, and their maximum values during the observation, were significantly different between groups. There were also significant differences between groups in the percent change of SBP and HR relative to baseline values at all observed points and their maximum percent changes during the observation. The incidences of SBP and HR percent increased >30% of the baseline values and RPP >22 000 during the observation, were significantly higher in Group F than in Group R, but the incidences of SBP and HR percent decreased >30% of baseline values were significantly lower in Group F compared with Group R. Conclusions When used as part of routine anesthesia induction with propofol and vecuronium in children, fentanyl 2 IJg/kg by bolus injection fails to effectively depress the cardiovascular intubation response. Remifentanil 2 ug/kg by bolus injection can completely abolish the cardiovascular intubation response, but also cause more adverse complications of temporary significant cardiovascular depression.