• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.901-907
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• 2010

Hiccups are defined as abrupt involuntary contractions of diaphragm and intercostal muscles with sudden closure of the glottis. Hiccups are one of the common transient symptoms but when hiccups last more than 48 hours, or have no response to treatment, they are defined as intractable hiccups. Intractable hiccups can induce multiple problems such as weight loss, dehydration and sleep disturbance. We report a 76-year-old male patient who suffered from intractable hiccups for 6 days after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Hiccupping was so severe as to continue all day long and limit sleeping and eating. We succeeded in cure intractable hiccups with acupuncture and herbal formula; Gyulyeohwadam-tang.