Citation

Ramazani Y, Nemati A, Moshiri M, Motie MR, Jomehpour H, Etemad L. Addict. Health 2022; 14(4): 309-311.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Kerman University of Medical Sciences and Health)

DOI

10.34172/ahj.2022.1336

PMID

37559790

PMCID

PMC10408747

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We reported a case of gastric obstruction in a body packer who swallowed a large number of opium packets. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old man opium addict visited the emergency department with epigastric pain for three days. He swallowed nearly 90 packets of opium for smuggling purposes four days earlier. He self-administered laxatives. In contrast, many times vomiting, he defecated only four packets and vomited one packet. The abdominal X-rays showed some amounts of fluid-air levels and multiple cylindrical opacities with the double-condom sign, corresponding to the distended stomach. Due to the worsening of his abdominal symptoms, he underwent an urgent laparotomy and 84 packets (4-6 cm in size and 8-10 g/ packet of opium) with a total weight of 870 g. They were wrapped in some layers of plastic and tied at the ends. He was discharged in stable condition.

CONCLUSION: A large number of ingested drug packets can induce gastrointestinal obstruction.

Language: en

Keywords

Drug trafficking; Illicit drugs; Opium; Substance-related disorders