Western Journal of Emergency Medicine (Dec 2012)

Persistent Hiccups as a Rare Presenting Symptom of Pulmonary Embolism

  • Getaw worku Hassen,
  • Mona Milkha Singh,
  • Hossein Kalantari,
  • Selamawit Yemane-Merriwether,
  • Steven Ferrante,
  • Ronald Shaw

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 6
pp. 479 – 483

Abstract

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Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition that may present as dyspnea, chest pain,cough or hemoptysis, but often occurs without symptoms. It is not typically associated with hiccups.Hiccups are generally self-limiting benign contractions of the diaphragm that may be associated with medications or food but may also be symptomatic of serious disease when persistent. We report 3 cases of PE presenting as persistent hiccups.

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