Complications associated with post-operative hiccups:
(1) interfere with eating
(2) interfere with sleep
(3) distress
Surgical sites most commonly associated with hiccups:
(1) intra-abdominal surgery
(2) urinary tract and/or prostate
(3) central nervous system
(4) thorax
Stimulation of nerve:
(1) phrenic nerve (hyperextension of neck, stimulation of diaphragm)
(2) vagus nerve
(3) superior or recurrent laryngeal nerve (glottis stimulation during intubation)
Intra-abdominal:
(1) bowel obstruction
(2) gastric distention
(3) traction of diaphragm or intra-abdominal viscera
(4) ileus
(5) pancreatitis
(6) cholecystitis or gallbladder distension
(7) esophagitis
(8) peritonitis
(9) intra-abdominal hemorrhage
(10) subphrenic abscess
(11) residual tumor (usually with nerve involvement)
Drug-induced:
(1) general anesthetics
(2) short acting barbiturates
(3) dexamethasone or IV steroids
Other:
(1) hypoventilation or hyperventilation (hypocarbia)
(2) anxiety
(3) pneumonia
(4) electrolyte disturbance (hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hyponatremia)
(5) uremia
(6) sepsis
