Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2025
Acupoint Application Combined with Acupressure as an Adjunctive Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Published on: June 21, 2024
A Systematic Literature Review of Interventions to Manage Hiccups in Patients With Cancer Undergoing Active Treatment
Rebecca T Sutcliffe1, Ijeoma Julie Eche-Ugwu
1Author Affiliations: Continuing the Umbrella of Research Experiences Summer Internship Program at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Ms Sutcliffe); Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA (Dr Eche-Ugwu); Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Blood Cancer, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Boston, MA (Dr Eche-Ugwu); Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Dr Eche-Ugwu).
Background:
Patients with cancer often experience persistent or intractable hiccups, which negatively impact their quality of life. Yet, interventions aimed at managing hiccups among patients with cancer receiving active treatment are lacking.
Objective:
To describe existing evidence on interventions that address hiccup management in patients with cancer receiving active treatment with curative intent.
Methods:
Our narrative synthesis review was conducted through a systematic search of 3 electronic databases (CINAHL Complete, PubMed, and HOLLIS) augmented by hand search from January 2003 to July 2023 to retrieve peer-reviewed articles published in English. Our review was guided by PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) and registered through the National Institute for Health Research, International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023444545).
Results:
The database searches yielded 2686 records. After removing duplicates and ineligible articles, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. Most were noninterventional observational studies. The most common pharmacologic interventions were as follows: steroid rotation (replacing dexamethasone with methylprednisolone or omitting dexamethasone), baclofen, and olanzapine. Of these pharmacologic interventions, replacing dexamethasone with another antiemetic was most beneficial in reducing hiccups. Baclofen was also found to be beneficial in reducing chronic or intractable hiccups. Acupuncture was found to be an effective nonpharmacologic intervention.
Conclusions:
This review identified several promising interventions such as steroid rotation (replacing dexamethasone with methylprednisolone or omitting dexamethasone), baclofen, and acupuncture for hiccup management among patients with cancer undergoing active treatment.
Implications For Practice:
Future studies to identify efficacious interventions for hiccups among patients with cancer receiving active treatment are warranted.
More Related Videos
05:33Author Spotlight: Alleviating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Safe and Effective Auricular Acupuncture
Published on: August 4, 2023
03:50Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 18, 2023
Related Concept Videos
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:28Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
01:26Peptic Ulcer Disease IV: Management
The therapeutic approach involves ensuring adequate rest, implementing drug therapy, promoting smoking cessation, making dietary modifications, and emphasizing long-term follow-up care.
Pharmacological management
The prevailing therapy for peptic ulcers involves a combination of managing the patient's current...
01:27Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists
01:21Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Cannabinoids
Two synthetic agonists of THC,...
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Assessment