Pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography were used to determine the haemodynamic effects of rectal methohexitone in 12 children 32.4 +/- 3.8 months old and weighing 13.3 +/- 1.1 kg (mean +/- SEM). Heart rate, blood pressure and echocardiographic measurements of cardiac output, stroke volume and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were obtained prior to the induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced with 25 mg.kg-1 two per cent rectal methohexitone. Immediately following the onset of sleep all cardiovascular measurements were repeated. Following the induction of anaesthesia with rectal methohexitone there was a significant increase in heart rate. Blood pressure, cardiac index, stroke volume and ejection fraction were unchanged. It is concluded that rectal administration of two per cent methohexitone for the induction of anaesthesia in healthy paediatric patients has minimal haemodynamic effect.