Background and Aim: Laparoscopic procedures are conventionally done under general anaesthesia for avoiding patient discomforts and shoulder pain due to pneumoperitoneum that occur during laparoscopy under spinal anaesthesia. Here a study was designed to look for the possibility of using right superficial cervical plexus block and intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion to reduce shoulder pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery under spinal anaesthesia.

Materials and Methods: 50 patients of age between 18-60years with ASA grade I/II undergoing elective laparoscopic surgeries were given spinal anaesthesia with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and grouped as technique used. Group S (n=25) received right superficial cervical plexus block. Group D(n=25) received Dexmedetomidine  intravenously.

Result: No patients required conversion to general anaesthesia. VDS score for referred shoulder pain was statistically lower in group S compared to group D. Injection dexmedetomidine was associated with lower heart rate and blood pressure.

Conclusion: Right superficial cervical plexus block is more effective than dexmedetomidine for reduction of referred shoulder pain during laparoscopic surgery under spinal anaesthesia.