Intractable Hiccups Treated With Stellate Ganglion Block: Case Report.

BACKGROUND: A hiccup is a common well-documented physiologic process that occurs due to a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, with subsequent rapid closure of the glottis. While acute hiccups, lasting < 48 hours, are experienced by almost all individuals at some point in their life, prolonged hiccups lasting > 48 hours, or intractable hiccups lasting > 1 month, are quite rare and may significantly impact a person's quality of life. We would like to share a report of a stellate ganglion (SG) block relieving the discomfort of a patient suffering from idiopathic intractable hiccups.

CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old man suffered from > 3 years of idiopathic intractable hiccups that were resistant to oral medications and phrenic nerve blocks. An ultrasound-guided SG block with a combination of ropivacaine and lidocaine was administered to the patient. After this block, for the first time in over 3 years, the patient was 100% hiccup-free for one week.

CONCLUSIONS: This case report demonstrates that the ultrasound-guided SG block could be a temporary treatment option for those affected by idiopathic intractable hiccups.