Dexmedetomidine to Treat Hiccups During Anesthetic Care in an Adolescent Female

Authors

  • Dalton Skaggs
  • Brian Hall
  • Joseph D. Tobias

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc5198

Keywords:

Hiccups, Dexmedetomidine, Anesthetic care

Abstract

The clinical applications of dexmedetomidine in infants and children have included sedation during mechanical ventilation, prevention of post-anesthesia delirium, control of procedure-related pain and anxiety, and treatment of shivering. We present anecdotal experience with the use of dexmedetomidine to treat hiccups that developed intraoperatively in an adolescent following the induction of anesthesia and placement of a laryngeal mask airway. The neural pathways and neurotransmitters involved with hiccups are reviewed, options for intraoperative treatment presented, and previous reports of the use of dexmedetomidine in this clinical scenario discussed.

Author Biography

  • Joseph D. Tobias, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

    Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

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Published

2025-10-10

Issue

Section

Case Report

How to Cite

1.
Skaggs D, Hall B, Tobias JD. Dexmedetomidine to Treat Hiccups During Anesthetic Care in an Adolescent Female. J Med Cases. Published online October 10, 2025. doi:10.14740/jmc5198