Originally Posted by RNSUEIA
Can anyone tell me why our patients get the hiccups? I have been working hospice about 15 months and I was assessing a pt who is complaining of hiccups that he describes as coming from deep with in him. It sounds very uncomfortable, I did get him an order for some thorazine. Any way when I was asked why this happens I was at a loss to explain. Can someone help me with this? Thank you in advance
a loooooong time ago, i did some research on this very subject. in summarizing what i learned, is that hiccups remain an enigma and continue to be a mysterious nuance.
typically i've either given baclofen or thorazine a/o. then one time i had the pleasure of working with the most dynamic doctor, and he prescribed lidocaine 50 mg iv.....nothing had worked on this pt. but the lidocaine worked immediately and like a charm.
it's generally believed that intractible hiccups are r/t a neurogenic dysfunction; whether its' origin is at the nerve roots, cranial, peripheral pathways or autonomic receptors. we all know about diaphragmatic irritability but other etiologies include meds, infections, recreational drugs, psychogenic origin. so basically what it's telling me is no one knows for sure. i think you would be safe telling your pt that it's typically a dysfunction of your cns.
nothing but good wishes for you, your pt.
leslie
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