Acupuncture Treatment for Persistent Hiccups in Patients with Cancer

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture treatment for persistent hiccups in cancer patients. Design: The study design was a retrospective case series. Settings/location: The study setting was the Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of Health. Subjects: The subjects were 16 adult male patients ages 27-71 with cancer, with persistent hiccups. Interventions: There were one to three acupuncture sessions over a 1-7-day period. Outcome measures: Treatment efficacy was measured using a hiccup assessment instrument pre- and post-treatment. The effects of acupuncture on common symptoms reported by all patients were also evaluated. Results: Thirteen (13) patients experienced complete remission of persistent hiccups (p<0.0001); 3 patients experienced decreased hiccups severity. Significant improvement was observed in discomfort (p<0.0001), distress (p<0.0001), and fatigue (p = 0.0078). Conclusions: This case series demonstrates that acupuncture may be a clinically useful, safe, and low-cost therapy for persistent hiccups in patients with cancer.