Palliative management of intractable hiccups in a patient with an advanced brain tumour

Abstract

Intractable hiccupping is distressing for both patients under palliative care and their families, particularly if the patients have advanced cancer. The lack of clear management guidelines renders hiccup management challenging for health professionals. We report our management of intractable hiccups in a 70-year-old man with a progressive malignant brain tumour who was under palliative care. The hiccups were difficult to control; several drugs were tested before we finally introduced (and upwardly titrated) gabapentin, which appears to be safe when used to manage intractable hiccups.