Body packing: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | |||
[[File:Blausen 0817 SmallIntestine Anatomy.png|thumb|Small bowel anatomy with surrounding structures.]] | |||
[[File:Bodypacks.jpg|thumb|Seized cocaine containers (i.e. bodypacks).]] | |||
[[File:PMC3522363 iranjradiol-08-205-g001.png|thumb|Illicit drugs evacuated from a body packer. They are packed tightly and wrapped into aluminum foil.]] | |||
*Body packers, also called "mules", swallow or insert drug filled packets into body cavity, usually to smuggle them across borders | |||
*Packets usually made of several layers of latex and outer wax coating | |||
*Each packet contains about 10g of drug and body packers ingest between 50 to 100 drug containers at a time<ref>Booker RJ. Packers, pushers and stuffers--managing patients with concealed drugs in UK emergency departments: a clinical and medicolegal review. Emerg Med J. 2009;26(5):316-20.</ref> | |||
*Sometimes packets are inserted rectally or vaginally | |||
*Distinct from [[Body stuffing]] (ingestion of illicit drugs while pursued by law enforcement, usually small quantity) | |||
{{FB types}} | |||
==Clinical Features== | |||
*Situations in which body packers present to the ED: | |||
**Asymptomatic but in custody | |||
**Signs of [[toxidromes]] from a ruptured packet | |||
**Signs of [[bowel obstruction]] or perforation | |||
*History and physical | |||
**Type of drug | |||
**Type of packet wrapping (more likely to rupture or leak if home made) | |||
**Number of packets ingested | |||
**GI symptoms ([[abdominal pain|pain]], distention, obstipation) | |||
**Other drug use | |||
==Differential Diagnosis== | |||
{{Drugs of abuse types}} | |||
==Evaluation== | |||
[[File:PMC3522363 iranjradiol-08-205-g002.png|thumb|Abdominal x-ray reveals multiple, oval radiopaque packets throughout the abdomen.]] | |||
[[File:Bolletjes.jpg|thumb|Abdominal X-ray showing swallowed packages of cocaine.]] | |||
[[File:PMC3522363 iranjradiol-08-205-g005.png|thumb|(A) plain x-ray reveals several uniform radiopaque packets; B-C, Abdominal CT scan without oral contrast shows numerous randomly distributed packets within the small bowel and colon. Their density is 150-170HU which is compatible with the density of opium.]] | |||
*Imaging: KUB, CT abdomen pelvis | |||
*[[Urine drug screen]]: may be misleading | |||
==Management== | |||
*Asymptomatic patients | |||
**Expectant management, no surgery, close monitoring in ICU until passage of all packets | |||
**[[Whole bowel irrigation]] with polyethylene glycol via NGT at 2L per hour | |||
**[[Activated charcoal]] more useful in body stuffers | |||
*[[Opioid toxicity]] | |||
**[[Naloxone]]: may require very high doses | |||
***2 to 5mg IV initially, repeat 2mg q5min until responsive | |||
***then total amount required for response should be given every hour as continuous drip | |||
*[[Sympathomimetic toxicity]] | |||
**Immediate OR for surgical decontamination | |||
**No place for conservative management | |||
**Pharmacologic stabilization appropriate but not definitive, do not delay transfer to the OR | |||
***[[Hyperthermia]] | |||
****Active external cooling | |||
****IV [[benzodiazepines]] ([[midazolam]] 1 to 2mg IV or [[diazepam]] 5 to 10 mg IV, rapid escalation in dosing) | |||
***[[Hypertension]] | |||
****IV [[benzodiazepines]], [[phentolamine]], [[nitroprusside]], [[nitroglycerin]],, or [[nicardipine]] | |||
***[[Seizures]] | |||
****IV [[benzodiazepines]], followed by [[propofol]] if needed | |||
***[[Ventricular dysrhythmias]] | |||
****IV [[benzodiazepines]], followed by hypertonic [[sodium bicarbonate]] if wide QRS | |||
*[[bowel obstruction|Obstruction]] or perforation | |||
**OR for immediate ex-lap, then advanced imaging study to document a clear GI tract | |||
**Endoscopic removal highly controversial, risk of packet perforation | |||
==Disposition== | |||
*Admit all to ICU, regardless of symptoms | |||
*Complete GI decontamination by contrast CT should be documented prior to discharge | |||
**History is unreliable | |||
**Passage of 2 or 3 packet free bowel movements is not sufficient<ref>Rousset P. Detection of residual packets in cocaine body packers: low accuracy of abdominal radiography-a prospective study. Eur Radiol. 2013;23(8):2146-55.</ref> | |||
==See Also== | |||
*[[Body stuffing]] | |||
*[[Drugs of abuse]] | |||
*[[Ingested foreign body]] | |||
*[[Rectal foreign body]] | |||
==External Links== | |||
==References== | |||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:GI]] | |||
[[Category:Toxicology]] |
Latest revision as of 22:48, 28 February 2024
Background
- Body packers, also called "mules", swallow or insert drug filled packets into body cavity, usually to smuggle them across borders
- Packets usually made of several layers of latex and outer wax coating
- Each packet contains about 10g of drug and body packers ingest between 50 to 100 drug containers at a time[1]
- Sometimes packets are inserted rectally or vaginally
- Distinct from Body stuffing (ingestion of illicit drugs while pursued by law enforcement, usually small quantity)
Foreign Body Types
- Ear foreign body
- Nasal foreign body
- Ocular foreign body
- Aspirated foreign body
- GI
- Soft tissue foreign body
Clinical Features
- Situations in which body packers present to the ED:
- Asymptomatic but in custody
- Signs of toxidromes from a ruptured packet
- Signs of bowel obstruction or perforation
- History and physical
- Type of drug
- Type of packet wrapping (more likely to rupture or leak if home made)
- Number of packets ingested
- GI symptoms (pain, distention, obstipation)
- Other drug use
Differential Diagnosis
Drugs of abuse
- 25C-NBOMe
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Bath salts
- Cocaine
- Ecstasy
- Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- Heroin
- Inhalant abuse
- Hydrocarbon toxicity
- Difluoroethane (electronics duster)
- Marijuana
- Kratom
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Psilocybin ("magic mushrooms")
- Synthetic cannabinoids
- Chloral hydrate
- Body packing
Evaluation
- Imaging: KUB, CT abdomen pelvis
- Urine drug screen: may be misleading
Management
- Asymptomatic patients
- Expectant management, no surgery, close monitoring in ICU until passage of all packets
- Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol via NGT at 2L per hour
- Activated charcoal more useful in body stuffers
- Opioid toxicity
- Naloxone: may require very high doses
- 2 to 5mg IV initially, repeat 2mg q5min until responsive
- then total amount required for response should be given every hour as continuous drip
- Naloxone: may require very high doses
- Sympathomimetic toxicity
- Immediate OR for surgical decontamination
- No place for conservative management
- Pharmacologic stabilization appropriate but not definitive, do not delay transfer to the OR
- Hyperthermia
- Active external cooling
- IV benzodiazepines (midazolam 1 to 2mg IV or diazepam 5 to 10 mg IV, rapid escalation in dosing)
- Hypertension
- Seizures
- IV benzodiazepines, followed by propofol if needed
- Ventricular dysrhythmias
- IV benzodiazepines, followed by hypertonic sodium bicarbonate if wide QRS
- Hyperthermia
- Obstruction or perforation
- OR for immediate ex-lap, then advanced imaging study to document a clear GI tract
- Endoscopic removal highly controversial, risk of packet perforation
Disposition
- Admit all to ICU, regardless of symptoms
- Complete GI decontamination by contrast CT should be documented prior to discharge
- History is unreliable
- Passage of 2 or 3 packet free bowel movements is not sufficient[2]
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Booker RJ. Packers, pushers and stuffers--managing patients with concealed drugs in UK emergency departments: a clinical and medicolegal review. Emerg Med J. 2009;26(5):316-20.
- ↑ Rousset P. Detection of residual packets in cocaine body packers: low accuracy of abdominal radiography-a prospective study. Eur Radiol. 2013;23(8):2146-55.