Vakhtang Shoshiashvili*

Assistant Professor, Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Toxicology, TSMU First University Hospital, Tbilisi, Georgia

*Corresponding Author: AVakhtang Shoshiashvili, Assistant Professor, Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Toxicology, TSMU First University Hospital, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Received: June 12, 2023; Published: June 20, 2023

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Hiccups are an involuntarily powerful spasm of the diaphragm, followed by a sudden inspiration with a closure of the glottis. Persistent and intractable hiccups can cause dehydration, insomnia, depression, gastroenteric disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux, and even death. Treatment options are multiple including conservative treatment, nerve blocks such as the phrenic nerve and sympathetic/parasympathetic ganglion blocks and surgical treatment.

Case Presentation: Case 1. 50 years old man had persistent hiccups during 10 days with insomnia, depression, gastrointestinal disorders. Patient was drug abused, former military person. He had chronic hepatitis C. He was treated with chlorpromazine without any result. After two sided transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block with 2% lidocaine application during 5 minutes hiccup improved without relapse. No additional treatment was needed. Case 2. 67 years old men with hiccups, insomnia and depression during 7 days. No specific treatment before hospital admission. Concomitant disease – controlled arterial hypertension, ischemic stroke 3 years ago without neurological consequences. As a result of two sided transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block with 2% lidocaine application during 5 minutes hiccup improved, but after two hours hiccup relapsed with less intensiveness and sphenopalatine ganglion block repeated. Hiccup improved without relapse. No additional treatment was needed.

Conclusion: Sphenopalatine ganglion block is an effective tool for the treatment of persistent hiccup. Due to its simplicity, safety and effectiveness it can serve as a first treatment option of hiccups. In case of hiccup relapse, it can be repeated.

 Keywords: Hiccups; Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block; Diaphragm; Phrenic Nerve; Parasympathetic Ganglion

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Citation

Citation: Vakhtang Shoshiashvili. “Effectiveness of Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Persistent Hiccups Treatment”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 7.7 (2023): 107-111.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2023 Vakhtang Shoshiashvili. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.