Treatment of persistent postoperative hiccups with stellate ganglion block

RATIONALE: Although persistent postoperative hiccups can cause various problems (such as sleep disorders, depression, fatigue) for the patient, there has been little research on this topic. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of treating persistent postoperative hiccups with a stellate ganglion block (SGB), an injection of local anesthetic in the sympathetic nerve tissue of the neck. PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES: Three patients each developed persistent hiccups within 3 days of abdominal surgery, lasting for 3 to 6 days. The patients were diagnosed as having persistent hiccups based on the hiccup duration. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The 3 patients were treated with an SGB. After the procedure, the frequency and intensity of hiccups decreased and then the hiccups stopped completely. CONCLUSION: An SGB is an effective method that can be considered in conjunction with other treatments for persistent hiccups. Clinicians should be mindful of the negative effects that persistent hiccups can exert on patients.