title: Singultus: Avoiding a hiccup in care.
abstract: Hiccups (singultus) is often a benign, common and self- limited condition. A case of profound electrolyte disturbances presenting with chief complaint of hiccups is presented in which chlorpromazine was not administered and could have been problematic had it been given. For those who present to the ED with chief complaint of hiccups, it is critical to consider a life threatening etiology as the cause of their symptom. This case presents a potential pitfall in the management of singultus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Rowan University SOM Kennedy University Hospital, Stratford, NJ, USA. Electronic address: gardeckij@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Rowan University SOM Kennedy University Hospital, Stratford, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Rowan University SOM Kennedy University Hospital, Stratford, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucerna
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Rowan University SOM Kennedy University Hospital, Stratford, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Jarrid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
mesh_terms: D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006606:Hiccup / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002746:Chlorpromazine
keywords: Emergency department evaluation of hiccups; Emergency department evaluation of singultus; Hiccups; Hiccups with hyponatremia; Singultus; Singultus with hyponatremia