title: Retrospective analysis of hiccups in patients at a community hospital from 1995-2000.
abstract: Hiccups are a physiologic phenomenon noted in animals and humans. There is little understanding of what makes hiccups occur and whether or not they have any productive purpose. A retrospective analysis of all patients seen in a community hospital over a 5 year period was conducted to see who is affected by hiccups, evaluate laboratory findings in people with hiccups, and to see what the currently accepted treatment is for hiccups. The vast majority of patients were male, older than 50 years of age, and with co-morbid conditions. Laboratory values appeared to be of little value in determining whether treatment interventions would be effective. Gastroenterology was the service most consulted and EGD the most common procedural intervention conducted, but with little success. No treatments showed a statistically significant effect.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21215, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler Childs
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Cymet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006606:Hiccup / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D002118:Calcium