We have compared the anaesthetic and analgesic efficacy of levobupivacaine with that of racemic bupivacaine in 66 male patients undergoing ambulatory primary inguinal herniorrhaphy. Patients were allocated randomly in a double-blind manner to local infiltration anaesthesia (0.25% w/v 50 ml) with either racemic bupivacaine (n = 33) or levobupivacaine (n = 33). Scores for intraoperative pain and satisfaction with anaesthesia were recorded, together with perception of postoperative pain and need for supplementary postoperative analgesic medications in the first 48 h after operation. Intraoperative satisfaction with the infiltration anaesthesia was similar, with median scores of 77 (levobupivacaine) and 80 (bupivacaine) (VAS; 100 mm = extremely satisfied). Time averaged postoperative pain scores (48 h) were 8 (levobupivacaine) and 10 (bupivacaine) in the supine position, 13 (levobupivacaine) and 12 (bupivacaine) while rising from the supine position to sitting, and 9 (levobupivacaine) and 13 (bupivacaine) while walking (VAS; 100 mm = worst pain imaginable) (ns). There was no difference in the use of peroral postoperative analgesics between the two groups. We conclude that racemic bupivacaine and its S-enantiomer levobupivacaine had similar efficacy when used as local infiltration anaesthesia in inguinal herniorrhaphy.