Objective To investigate the effects on hemodynamic efficacy of acute hypervolemic fluid infusion (AHFI) during induction of general anesthesia in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods Five minutes before induction of general anesthesia, forty patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery were randomized to receive 10 ml/kg of low-molecular 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 (HES 130/0.4 group, n = 20) or lactated ringer’s solution (RL group, n= 20), within 30 min. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), and stroke volume variation (SVV) were recorded 5 min before induction of anesthesia (T0, baseline), immediately after anesthetic induction (T1), immediately after intubation (T2), 5 min after intubation (T3), and after the end of AHFI (T4). Results Compared with T0, MAP, CI and SV were significantly decreased at T1 [from (98.6 ± 12.5) mm Hg(1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), (2.7 ± 0.4) L•min-1•m-2, and (82.5 ± 17.4) ml to (82.3 ± 10.8) mm Hg, (2.3 ± 0.3) L•min-1•m-2 and (73.4 ± 15.5) ml, respectively. (P < 0.05)], HR was significantly decreased at T3 and T4 [from (66.2 ± 9.5) bpm to (57.8 ± 6.2) bpm and (56.4 ± 6.9) bpm, respectively), CI was significantly decreased at T4 [from (2.3 ± 0.3) L•min-1•m-2 to (3.2 ± 0.4) L•min-1•m-2], but SVV was significantly increased at T4[from (8.6 ± 4.3) % to (6.3 ± 3.2) %] in HES140/0.4 groups. However, MAP and SV were significantly decreased at T1 [(78.8 ± 12.1) mm Hg and（71.3 ± 16.2）ml], T3 [ (82.7 ± 12.9) mm Hg and (73.6 ± 15.9) ml], and T4 [(79.2 ± 10.1) mm Hg and (74.4 ± 16.3) ml] in RL group (P < 0.05, or P < 0.01). Compared with RL group, CI and SV were significantly increased at T3 [from (2.5±0.4) L•min-1•m-2 and (73.6±15.9) ml to (3.0 ± 0.5) L•min-1•m-2 and (91.2 ± 18.6) ml, respectively. (P < 0.05)]. MAP, CI, and SV were significantly increased at T4 [from（88.2±9.4）mm Hg, (3.2 ± 0.4) L•min-1•m-2, and （91.2 ± 18.6）ml to (79.2 ± 10.1 ) mm Hg, (3.0 ± 0.5 ) L•min-1•m-2 and (91.2 ± 18.6) ml, respectively. (P < 0.05)] in HES140/0.4 groups. However, SVV was significantly decreased at T4 [from (10.6 ±4 .5) % to (6.3 ± 3.2) %. (P < 0.05)]. Conclusions Acute hypervolemic fluid infusion during the induction of general anesthesia is a safe and efficient method in patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass grafting. As compared with lactated ringer’s solution, HES140/0.4 maintains a better status of hemodynamic processes.