Recognizing Hiccups on Ventilator Waveforms

Hiccups are brief, strong, and involuntary diaphragmatic contractions. In this example, one of the breaths shows a greater pressure drop during the trigger phase compared to the surrounding breaths, along with a higher peak inspiratory flow, and the breath is very short in duration. This distinct pattern reflects a sudden, forceful inspiratory effort characteristic of a hiccup. Therefore, these abnormal short breaths are most consistent with hiccup-induced diaphragmatic contractions.