Unilateral phrenic nerve block guided by ultrasonography and nerve stimulator for the treatment of hiccup developed after tongue cancer operation: A case report.

Kang,  Sang Soo; Jang,  Ji Su; Park,  Jun Hee; Hong,  Seong Jun; Shin,  Keun Man; Yun,  Yeong Jun

doi:2009.56.2.208

Case Report

Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 2009;56(2):208-210.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2009.56.2.208

Unilateral phrenic nerve block guided by ultrasonography and nerve stimulator for the treatment of hiccup developed after tongue cancer operation: A case report.

Sang Soo Kang, Ji Su Jang, Jun Hee Park, Seong Jun Hong, Keun Man Shin, Yeong Jun Yun

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kmshin1@yahoo.co.kr

Abstract

Hiccups are common benign and usually transient phenomenon that occur in nearly everyone. However, persistent or intractable hiccups can cause multiple problems including malnutrition, weight loss, fatigue, dehydration, insomnia, and wound dehiscence. We have experienced a case of postoperative persistent hiccup. The patient was formerly diagnosed tongue cancer and developed persistent hiccup after partial glossectomy with modified radical neck dissection and a radial forearm free-flap operation. He was unsuccessfully managed using pharmacologic methods, and then we tried phrenic nerve block guided by ultrasonography and a nerve stimulator because the surface anatomy of neck was deformed by the previous operation. Thirty minutes after the block, the hiccups disappeared.

Key Words: Hiccups; Nerve stimulator; Phrenic nerve block; Ultrasonography