The Conundrum Of Intractable Hiccups: The Role Of Surgery

Introduction: Intractable hiccups are a rare clinical entity defined by persistent episodes lasting longer than one month. Various pharmacological therapies have been described with variable success. Interventional approaches such as phrenic nerve block have demonstrated benefit in selected cases. However, there is limited literature on definitive surgical management, particularly via thoracotomy with phrenic nerve ligation and division. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 25-year-old female with a five-year history of intractable hiccups refractory to multiple pharmacological therapies, who underwent successful surgical management with phrenic nerve ligation and division via thoracotomy. Conclusion: Intractable hiccups remain a challenging condition to manage. Surgical ligation and division of the ipsilateral phrenic nerve may provide definitive relief in carefully selected patients who fail conservative and pharmacological therapies.