How To Get Rid Of Hiccups

Device Implantation For Electrical Stimulation

If medication and anesthetic injections have not alleviated a patient's hiccups, device implantation for electrical stimulation might be considered. These devices were originally developed to treat epilepsy, though they have shown promise in the resolution of persistent hiccups. Performed under either general or local anesthesia, the procedure involves implanting a battery-powered device that delivers mild electric stimulation (shocks) to the vagus nerve. Surgeons place the device in the chest wall, and thin wires attached to the device are threaded around the vagus nerve, located in the neck. Two incisions are needed for the procedure, one in the chest and the other in the neck. During the operation, the surgeon will program the device, setting the amount of stimulation and the schedule for stimulation. The device runs all the time, and surgeons may choose to program it to turn off for set periods. Patients are given a magnetic device that can activate the stimulator at home, and they can choose to activate it whenever they are experiencing an episode of hiccups. The battery in the electrical stimulation implant can last up to fifteen years.

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