Drug smuggling by internal bodily concealment is a well-recognized international problem, particularly in view of the difficulty of its detection and the potential for large financial gains. This mode of transport can have serious medical complications, including drug intoxication--sometimes fatal--as well as intestinal obstruction by foreign bodies (FBs). We discuss a case of heroin 'bodypacking' (the ingestion of heroin filled condoms) with its resultant complications. The initial medical management and indications for surgery are discussed, and the relevant literature reviewed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1342518 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.12.1.43 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Bowel obstruction in body-packing: A case report and literature review.
Int J Surg Case Rep
August 2023
Department of surgery, Alborz University of Medical Science, Alborz, Iran. Electronic address:
Introduction And Importance: The body packer swallows or embeds drugs in body cavities in a purposeful way. Packets usually contain of opium, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines. The significant complications of body packing usually are symptoms of drug toxicity due to leaking or ruptured packets or symptoms of ingesting relatively large foreign bodies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA fatal case of cannabis body-packing: About an autopsy case report.
J Forensic Leg Med
August 2020
Department of Forensic Medicine, Charles Nicolle University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
The body packing represents an illegal drug trafficking practice across the borders of certain countries. It has experienced enormous growth in recent years. The medical literature is rich in publications interested in body packaging of cocaine or heroin with sometimes lethal consequences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContribution of dual-energy computed tomography in the differentiation of illicit drugs.
Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol
January 2020
LaTIM-INSERM UMR, Univ Brest, 29238 Brest Cedex 03, France.
Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare the dual-energy behaviour of the main illicit substances as well as their cutting agents in order to be able to differentiate them.
Material And Methods: Cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and cannabis as well as 3 adulterants, 2 diluents, and water were scanned at 90 kV and then at 140 kV on a single X-ray tube computed tomography (CT) scanner. The data acquired enabled a mapping of the attenuation values to 90 and 140 kVp as well as a resulting dual-energy index (DEI) mapping.
Young Man With Suspected Foreign Body Ingestion.
Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med
November 2019
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Emergency Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama.
As United States emergency departments (ED) and hospitals continue to contend with increasing numbers of patients presenting with complications of substance abuse, emergency physicians should also be aware of patients who may be smuggling illicit drugs. We report the case of a 26-year-old man who was transported to the ED for suspected drug smuggling. Abdominal computed tomography was notable for the presence of multiple tubular foreign bodies throughout the colon that were later identified as packets containing heroin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeroin body-packing and naloxone.
Lancet
March 2019
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!