Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Phrenic Nerve for Intractable Hiccups: A Novel use Case Series

Intractable hiccups are defined as hiccups that persist for more than one month. Although rare, they are often refractory to conventional therapies and can significantly impair quality of life.

Our case series describes the use of phrenic nerve peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in 2 patients, a 73-year-old man and a 52-year-old man, with chronic intractable hiccups. Medical management and various interventional procedures provided only transient improvement. PNS of the bilateral phrenic nerves resulted in immediate and sustained symptomatic improvement in both patients, as reflected by a decrease in Hiccup Assessment Instrument scores. No complications were observed, and both patients reported significant improvements in quality of life.

These findings highlight the potential role of phrenic nerve PNS as a viable treatment option for patients with intractable hiccups refractory to conventional treatments. Further investigation is warranted to validate these findings and establish its durability of benefit.