BACKGROUND Obtaining adequate analgesia in the perioperative period is an enormous task. Studies show that etoricoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor given pre-emptively reduces the pain and thereby enhances recovery. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of pre-emptive etoricoxib in reducing intraoperative requirements of anaesthetic agents, decreasing postoperative pain and improving functional outcome in patients undergoing inguinal hernioplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two groups, each of thirty patients were formed-Group S and Group C. Group S received a single dose of etoricoxib two hours prior to anaesthesia, while Group C received a placebo. Sevoflurane used during the intraoperative period was calculated. The patient's pain, sleep and body language in the postoperative period was noted. The rescue analgesics were recorded. Statistical Analysis-The data was analysed using Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, independent two sample t-test, Pearson Chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. Settings and Design-The study was performed in the Department of Anaesthesia in Jubilee Mission Medical College and Regional Institute, Thrissur, from January 2015 to March 2016. This was a prospective study. RESULTS Age, gender and duration of surgery were comparable in both groups. The amount of sevoflurane consumed was less in group S. The postoperative pain was also less in group S at all the time points. Patients in group S demanded less rescue analgesics. 83.3% of the patients in group S had good sleep versus 26.7% in the group C. Up to 93.3% of the patients in group S had a relaxed body language versus 36.7% in group C. No adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION Pre-emptive etoricoxib is thus a safe, simple and cost-effective therapy in reducing the intraoperative anaesthetic and postoperative analgesic requirements.