OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride on extubation stress response in elderly patients during general anesthesia recovery period. METHODS： 80 patients underwent general anesthesia of abdominal surgery were randomly divided into observation group and control group， with 40 cases in each group. Both groups received routine anesthesia before surgery and during surgery. 10 min before the end of surgery， observation group was given intravenous pump of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride diluted to 10 ml 0.5 μg/kg， and control group was given constant volume of 10 ml 0.9％ Sodium chloride solution. HR， MAP and SaO2 levels of 2 groups were compared before the induction of anesthesia （T0）， at the moment of intravenous injection of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride or 0.9％ Sodium chloride solution （T1）， at the moment immediately before extubation （T2）， at the moment of extubation （T3）， 1 min after extubation （T4）， 5 min after extubation （T5） and 10 min after extubation （T6）. Ramsay sedation score of 2 groups were compared at T0， T2， T4， T5 and T6； cough score， restlessness score， awake time （t1） and extubation time （t2） were also compared between 2 groups. RESULTS： Compared with at T0， the fluctuation of HR and MAR in 2 groups decreased significantly and became stable gradually at T4， T5 and T6， and HR and MAP of observation group at T1-T6 were significartly lower than those of control group， with statistical significance（P＜0.05）； but there was no statistical significance in SaO2 （P＞0.05）. There was statistical significance in Ramsay sedation score between 2 groups at T2， T4， T5 and T6 （P＜0.05）. The cough score and restlessness score of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group， and t1 and t2 were significantly shorter than those of control group， with statistical significance （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride can relieve extubation stress reaction in elderly patients during general anesthesia recovery period with good safety.