Hemodynamic changes were studied during two different anesthetic techniques in 40 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). All patients had normal left ventricular function and coagulation profiles and were randomly assigned to two groups. In 20 patients high thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) with bupivacaine 0.125% and fentanyl 2/ml together with low dose isoflurane (0.5-1%) were started after induction of anesthesia. The other 20 patients received general anesthesia (GA) with fentanyl infusion of 4-6/kg/hr and isoflurane. There was a significant increase in the GA group as regards the MAP, HR, MPAP, MPCWP and SVRI. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups as regards the CVP, CI and PVRI. More patients in the GA group needed inotropic support and vasodilators than patients in the TEA group. Tracheal extubation time was significantly less in the TEA group compared to GA group (3.2+1.4 and 6.2+2.1 respectively).In conclusion, intraoperative hemodynamic stability, decrease in intraoperative fentanyl requirements decrease in intraoperative need for inotropes and vasodilators and early extubation were more pronounced in the TEA group than the GA group.