Acute Coronary Syndrome Presenting With Hiccups

Abstract

Acute coronary syndrome can present with atypical symptoms. Hiccups, generally considered benign and self-limiting, can be an indicator of myocardial ischemia if persistent. We present the case of a 62-year-old gentleman with a past medical history significant for hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and ischemic stroke who presented with persistent hiccups. Coronary angiogram revealed severe triple vessel disease and he underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery, following which his hiccups resolved. There are very few cases that report the association of hiccups and myocardial ischemia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which hiccups were a part of the primary symptoms associated with severe triple vessel coronary artery disease. This could be due to irritation of the phrenic nerve from the infarcted myocardium resulting in activation of the hiccup reflex arc. Our case highlights the association between these two common entities and stresses the importance of having a high index of suspicion, especially among high-risk and elderly patients.