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World J Radiol. Jun 28, 2011; 3(6): 155-158
Published online Jun 28, 2011. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v3.i6.155
Published online Jun 28, 2011. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v3.i6.155
A body-packer with a cocaine bag stuck in the stomach
Yan Beauverd, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
Pierre-Alexandre Poletti, Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
Hans Wolff, Department of Community Medicine, Primary Care and Emergency medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
Frédéric Ris, Department of visceral surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
Jean-Marc Dumonceau, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
Bernice S Elger, University of Geneva, Center for legal medicine, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
Author contributions: Beauverd Y was the primary author of the original manuscript; Beauverd Y performed the literature review; Poletti PA provided radiology material, and critical revisions about radiology management; Wolff H reviewed the manuscript and provided revisions about management of body-packers; Ris F treated the patient, was the surgeon for the gastrotomy, and provided revisions about surgery management; Dumonceau JM provided important critical revisions and intellectual content more specifically about gastroenterology; Elger BS proposed the case for publication and supervised presentation and drafting; she treated the patient, reviewed the manuscript, provided important critical revisions and contributed her knowledge about management of body-packers; all authors read and approved the final manuscript
Correspondence to: Dr. Yan Beauverd, Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. yan.beauverd@hcuge.ch
Telephone: +41-22-3729202 Fax: +41-22-3729235
Received: November 18, 2010
Revised: March 2, 2011
Accepted: March 9, 2011
Published online: June 28, 2011
Revised: March 2, 2011
Accepted: March 9, 2011
Published online: June 28, 2011
Abstract
Management of patients carrying packets of drugs in the digestive tract is a frequent medical problem. We report on a patient who was referred by the police after ingestion of packets of cocaine. After spontaneous elimination of 81 drug packets, the patient had three unremarkable stools. A plain abdominal X-ray disclosed no residual packet but computed tomography (CT) scan showed one in the stomach. As this was not eliminated during the 10 d following ingestion, it was removed through gastrotomy. This case stresses the usefulness of the CT scan to ensure that no residual packet is present before hospital discharge.
Keywords: Body-packing, Cocaine, Management, Surgery, Gastroscopy