High-Dose Poisoning, “Body Packers” Case That Ended in An Emergency: A Case Report

Abstract

“Body Packing” refers to the condition of being concealed in the anus or vagina (insertion into the body), filling the body (swallowing) for international illegal drug trafficking [1-3]. The first case of body packing was reported in the literature in 1973, with a case who swallowed a cannabis-filled condom and was hospitalized due to intestinal obstruction [4]. It is frequently observed that people with low socioeconomic level, youngmiddle age group and frequently low addiction level are users or non-users [5]. In addition, there was an increase in the types of substances carried and improvements in the form of substance packaging in body carrier. Body transport has become a major phenomenon with airline transport, as the customs still do not have the technology to detect this situation and a large amount of drug trafficking can be done at a time. The most common death in “body packing” cases is the result of acute toxicity occurring at high doses due to rupture of the packs. In addition, acute toxicity can be seen because the packages are semi-permeable. Deaths are rarely reported in the literature due to mechanical complications other than poisoning [4-6]. Therefore, it is necessary to diagnose these patients and start treatment as soon as possible. Radiological imaging has an important role in detecting body packages in drug carriers [7].