Effect of ultrasound-guided phrenic nerve block on shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy—a prospective, randomized controlled trial

Background Post- laparoscopicshoulder pain (PLSP) frequently follows a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A proposed mechanism for PLSP is the irritation or injury of the phrenic nerveby the CO2 pneumoperitoneumduring laparoscopic surgery. Here, we investigated whether a phrenic nerveblock (PNB), performed under ultrasound guidance, could reduce the incidence and severity of PLSP after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.