Objective: The authors evaluate intraoperative pain in patients undergoing tension-free inguinal hernioplasty under local anaesthesia. Material and Methods: One hundred and fourteen primary inguinal hernia repairs were carried out at the Department of General Surgery I of Catania University Polyclinic from January to September 2002. 2% Mepivacaine cloridrate was the local anesthetic of choice. Intraoperative pain was measured by a visual analog scale. Results: A mean analogic score of 1.9 (range 0-2.9) was obtained. Intraoperative complications were recorded only in 2 patients (1.7%). There was no operative mortality. All patients were up and about straightaway after surgery, had a light meal two hours later and were discharged within one day of operation. Conclusions: Inguinal hernia repair under local anaesthesia is well tolerated and is associated with a low risk of complications.