[Persistent intractable hiccup in the perioperative period]

We describe a case of hiccup in an awakening patient. Since there was no success in stopping the hiccup by deepening anaesthesia with Desflurane, we used Propofol 1.3 mg/kg BW as a short acting i.v. anaesthetic with a fast onset to provide early recovery after eliminating hiccup in the awakening patient. Recommendations for the therapy of hiccup range from breathing exercises to the implantation of a phrenic nerve stimulator. The small number of comparable patients and the lack of controlled studies prevent evidence-based recommendations for therapy. Currently patients profit mostly from the exchange of personal experiences.