Citation

Teijink JA, Siebenga J, Schreuder WO, Bakker FC, Maats CJ, Haarman HJ. Ned. Tijdschr. Geneeskd. 1997; 141(9): 433-437.

Vernacular Title

Het 'body-packer'-syndroom.

Affiliation

Afd. Heelkunde, Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Erven Bohn)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9173304

Abstract

In four patients, a woman of 35 and men of 27, 38, and 22 years old, body-packer syndrome was diagnosed. Body-packer syndrome is seen in people concealing drugs in special containers within the body; this may lead to rupture with acute intoxication or to ileus. The clinical presentation can be very deceptive. An abdominal X-ray often reveals the packages. If there are no symptoms treatment is with mild laxatives, acute intoxication requires immediate laparotomy. One of the four patients died, the others recovered. Legally (Dutch law), the physician best delivers the drug to the police as a lost object, without revealing the patient's identity.

Language: nl