[Effect of 10-minute apnoea on hiccups--a meta analysis].
BACKGROUND
Hiccups are well-known to most people. In most cases, hiccups are limited to a short period of time, but in some cases, they persist for days, weeks, months and even years. Many interventions have been proposed and tested, but the most effective is probably long periods of apnoea. The aim of this article was to determine the effect of 10-minute apnoea on hiccups.


METHODS
PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases and Web of Science were searched for randomised controlled trials examining the effect of apnoea on hiccups. The main outcome measure was total absence of hiccups for at least two days after intervention.


RESULTS
We found no randomised controlled trials testing extensive apnoea as an intervention against hiccups.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of massive positive empirical experience with the effect of long apnoea periods on hiccups, there is no solid scientific evidence confirming this effect. To determine the clinical effect, it is necessary to perform large double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover trials.
Burgdorf
Stefan K
SK
Kirurgisk Gastroenterologisk Afdeling Z2/D, Gentofte Hospital, DK-2900 Hellerup. stefan@stefanburgdorf.dk
Rosenberg
Jacob
J
D001049:Apnea; D006606:Hiccup / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome