50 year old male with a background of diabetes and hypertension, presents to ED complaining of abdominal pain and persistent hiccups for the last 24 hours.

Below is the patients VBG:

pH 7.538                                            Na 140mmol/l

pCO2 20.4mmHg                             K4.3mmol/l

HCO3  15mmol/l                              Cl 105mmol/l

B/E -4                                                 Cr  66umol/l

Glucose 25mmol/l                         Lactate 2.2 mmol/l

1. Describe and interpret the VBG

2. What are causes for persistent hiccups?

3. How do you treat persistent hiccups?