BACKGROUND Sevoflurane and propofol have been widely used for anesthesia induction. This study compared the efficacies of sevoflurane and propofol inductions for laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion in elderly patients. METHODS Ninety patients, aged 60 or more, received anesthesia induction with propofol and with sevoflurane 8% using the vital capacity breath (VCB) or tidal volume breath (TVB) techniques. Hemodynamic changes, induction time, complications, and the quality and ease of LMA insertion were observed. RESULTS LMA was inserted most, less or least rapidly with propofol (89 +/- 28 s), sevoflurane 8% using the VCB (163 +/- 34 s) or TVB (205 +/- 44 s) techniques, respectively. Anesthesia induction with propofol or sevoflurane 8% using the VCB technique produced either more frequent apnea or greater reduction in mean blood pressure than with sevoflurane 8% using the TVB technique. CONCLUSIONS Sevoflurane 8% using the TVB technique provides a smoother induction with a stable hemodynamic profile, less apnea and technical demand, but requiring longer time for LMA insertion in unpremedicated elderly patients.