50 year olds male with a background o type 2 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?