Acupuncture treatment for persistent hiccups in patients with cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture treatment for persistent hiccups in cancer patients.


METHODS
The study design was a retrospective case series.


METHODS
The study setting was the Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of Health.


METHODS
The subjects were 16 adult male patients ages 27-71 with cancer, with persistent hiccups.


METHODS
There were one to three acupuncture sessions over a 1-7-day period.


METHODS
Treatment efficacy was measured using a hiccup assessment instrument pre- and post-treatment. The effects of acupuncture on common symptoms reported by all patients were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Thirteen (13) patients experienced complete remission of persistent hiccups (p < 0.0001); 3 patients experienced decreased hiccups severity. Significant improvement was observed in discomfort (p < 0.0001), distress (p < 0.0001), and fatigue (p = 0.0078).


CONCLUSIONS
This case series demonstrates that acupuncture may be a clinically useful, safe, and low-cost therapy for persistent hiccups in patients with cancer.
Ge
Adeline X Y
AX
Division of Intramural Research, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. age@mail.nih.gov
Ryan
Mary E
ME
Giaccone
Giuseppe
G
Hughes
Marybeth S
MS
Pavletic
Steven Z
SZ
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006606:Hiccup / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome