ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the cause of refractory hiccups. Method 34 patients with refractory hiccups admitted to our hospital from January 1996 to December 2003 were examined with gastroscopy. The correlation of hiccups with reflux esophagitis and the efficacy of omeprazole treatment were studied. Results 10 patients were proven endoscopically to have esophagitis and duodenal ulcer, and the other 24 were suffering from esophagitis. According to Tokyo classification, 14 cases were having grade III esophagitis, and 20 were grade IV. All patients received omeprazole 20mg twice daily and cisapride 10mg thrice daily, and hiccups disappeared after 3 days. Conclusion Refractory hiccups may be the initial or primary symptom in moderate-severe esophagitis in aged people. Proton pump inhibitor therapy is effective in stopping refractory hiccup.