The effect of intranasally administered nitroglycerin (NTG) on the cardiovascular response to laryngoscopy and intubation was studied. Thirty patients scheduled to undergo coronary artery by‐pass surgery under thiopentone, enflurane and pancuronium anaesthesia were randomly divided into three groups. Group I received lignocaine 1.5 mg/kg i. v. prior to laryngoscopy and intubation (control group). Group II received lignocaine 1.5 mg/kg i. v. and in addition 2 mg nitroglycerin (NTG) was given intranasally. Group III received only 2 mg NTG intranasally. In Group I laryngoscopy and intubation caused a significant increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (P<0.01), heart rate (HR) (P<0.01) and rate pressure product (RPP) (P<0.01) compared to preoxygenation values. In Group II and III MAP and RPP remained unchanged, whereas HR increased (P<0.01 andP<0.01 respectively). It can be concluded that intranasally administered NTG effectively attenuates the pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients presenting for coronary artery by‐pass surgery and that it is a more effective and convenient method than intravenous lignoca