Transcription:
Abstract. A 60-year-old man with acute pancreatitis developed persistent hiccups after insertion of a nasogastric tube. Removal of the latter did not terminate the hiccups which had also been treated with different drugs, and several manoeuvres were attempted, but with no success. Digital rectal massage was then performed resulting in abrupt cessation of the hiccups. Recurrence of the hiccups occurred several hours later, and again, they were terminated immediately with digital rectal massage. No other recurrences were observed. This is the second reported case associating cessation of intractable hiccups with digital rectal massage. We suggest that this manoeuvre should be considered in cases of intractable hiccups before proceeding with pharmacological agents.
It’s rare but common enough in digital disimpaction that it’s included in basic nursing education. Namely why we really don’t like doing it as nurses and try to make the MDs do it. You need to be highly qualified to dig out poop. Hilariously, some MDs will then get a consult and have a GI specialist do it because they also don’t want to. Shit sometimes they make the surgeons do it so now you have anesthesia in on the loop.