Recurrent intractable hiccups treated by cervical phrenic nerve block under electromyography: report of a case

Surg Today. 2015 Nov;45(11):1446-9. doi: 10.1007/s00595-014-1074-2. Epub 2014 Nov 14.

Abstract

Intractable or persistent hiccups require intensive or invasive treatments. The use of a phrenic nerve block or destructive treatment for intractable hiccups has been reported to be a useful and discrete method that might be valuable to patients with this distressing problem and for whom diverse management efforts have failed. We herein report a successful treatment using a removable and adjustable ligature for the phrenic nerve in a patient with recurrent and intractable hiccups, which was employed under the guidance of electromyography.

Keywords: Electromyography; Hiccup; Phrenic nerve; Surgery; Trauma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Electromyography*
  • Hiccup / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Ligation / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Block / methods*
  • Neurosurgical Procedures / methods*
  • Phrenic Nerve / surgery*
  • Recurrence
  • Surgery, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome