ABSTRACT

Hiccup is described as a spasm of the diaphragm that causes a sudden inhalation followed by rapid closure of the glottis that produces a sound. Hiccup cause difficulties for medical procedures such as surgery, endoscopy or magnetic resonance imaging. In the literature, hiccup is presented as a situation that is seen due to anesthesia and most studies describe to manage anesthesia-related hiccup. The data about difficult intubation because of hiccup is lacking. Hereby, we present a case of difficult intubation due to chronic hiccup. The patient had a chronic hiccup associated with grade 3 esophagitis and hiatal hernia. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and thoracoscopic phrenic nerve ablation was performed. Our patient was hiccupping during surgery. However, the severity and the frequency of the hiccup attacks were decreased after surgery.

Keywords: Chronic hiccup, difficult intubation, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy