Citation

Cordero DR, Medina C, Helfgott A. 2006; 48(3): 323-325.

Affiliation

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006)

DOI

10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.02.019

PMID

16934653

Abstract

Ingesting multiple packets of drugs ("body packing") is a well-described method of smuggling. Although older reports suggested that body packers were mostly young men, the demographics of this group may be changing because children, older patients, and pregnant women may be involved. Pregnant patients represent a challenge in management, particularly in the event of package rupture. Modification of standard management protocols, which were developed for nonpregnant body packers, may be necessary to address the anatomic and physiologic changes of pregnancy. We report the case of a pregnant cocaine body packer who required a perimortem cesarean section after the rupture of a cocaine packet. The care of the pregnant body packer is discussed.

Language: en