The French technique of anaesthesia by electrostimulation described in 1972 by Cara and coworkers, consists of transcranial electrostimulation by means of a high frequency current combined with administration of a neuroleptic drug, a benzodiazepine, a curare and nitrous oxide with oxygen. Fentanyl is also given by some authors. In order to assess the benefit of such electrostimulation, this study compared two randomized groups of ten patients, scheduled for abdominal and pelvic surgery. Both groups received the same drugs (i.e. droperidol, flunitrazepam, pancuronium and nitrous oxide with oxygen), whereas patients in group I were also submitted to electrostimulation. This study describes and discusses the clinical behaviour of patients and the hormonal reactions before, during and after surgery. In both groups, operative conditions were satisfactory. Recovery and onset of spontaneous ventilation were rapid and no patient had an unpleasant recall of the operation itself. However, most of them complained of postoperative pain. Electrostimulation did not reduce the quantity of drugs required during and after surgery. In both groups, circulatory activity was significantly increased. In group I, the arterial pressure and the heart rate were significantly higher than in group II during and after surgery. The hormonal reactions showed that in both groups adrenocorticotrophic hormone, growth hormone and antidiuretic hormone increased during surgery. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentration was higher in group I during the operation. The serum levels of cortisol decreased before surgery in group I and rose in both groups during and after laparotomy; prolactin increased before surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)