Objective:To observe the effects of sevoflurane inhalation in advance on pulmonary function and oxidative stress responses during one-lung ventilation(OLV). Methods:Sixty patients preparing to undergo radical esophageal cancer resection were randomly divided into 3 groups equally(n=20):sevoflurane inhalation in advance group(group SP);propofol group(group P);sevoflurane group(group S). Anesthesia was induced with midazolan 0.04 mg/kg,fentanyl 3-4 μg/kg and propofol was administered by target con-trolled infusion with target blood concertration of 3 μg/ml. Tracheal intubation was facilitated with rocuronium of 0.6-0.8 mg/kg. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol at a target blood concertration of 3 μg/ml in group P or inhalation of sevoflurane(1.0%-3.0%) in group S. Anesthesia was maintained with the inhalation of sevoflurane(1.0%-2.0%) before OLV and with propofol after OLV in group SP. Remifentanil was infused by target controlled and atracurium was given intravenously and intermittently during op-eration in each groups. Bispectral index was maintained at 40-60. Blood samples were taken from radial artery and right atrial blood at 6 time points:after the induction of anesthesia(baseline,T1),before OLV(T2),at 30 min(T3),60 min(T4) after OLV,before the end of OLV(T5) and after operation(T6) to measure blood gases and to calculate Qs/Qt. Serum malondialdehyde(MDA) concen-trations and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity were measured at T1,T3-T5. Results:Qs/Qt and MDA concentrations were significantly higher while PaO2、SOD activity were significantly lower during operation(from T3 to T5) compared with those at T1 in three groups(P<0.01). Qs/Qt at T4 and MDA at T5 were significantly lower while SOD was significantly higher in SP group than in group P and group S(P<0.05). Qs/Qt was significantly lower at T3 while was significantly higher at T5 in group S than in group P. There was no differ-ence in PaO2 among the three groups. Conclusions:Sevoflurane inhalation in advance before OLV could reduce intrapulmonary shunt and oxidative stress during OLV in patients undergoing esoph-ageal cancer resection.