Surgical care for ingested cocaine packets: Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION: Body packing is the use of intra-corporeal packages of illicit drugs for the purpose of smuggling, usually through customs. Clinical cases and experience with body packers has increased since the first report appeared in 1971. These cases remain an uncommon cause of acute drug toxicity and/or bowel obstruction. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 23 year-old man was brought to the emergency department with seizures. CT imaging revealed numerous intestinal foreign bodies, suspicious for body packing. The patient was stabilized and taken emergently to the operating room for exploratory laparotomy and removal of 34 cocaine packets. Ongoing treatment for cocaine overdose was also utilized. The patient recovered without complications. DISCUSSION: This case provides insight and awareness for proper diagnosis and management of body packers by physicians and surgeons alike. CONCLUSION: We present a case report of acute cocaine intoxication in a young man who ingested 34 packets of cocaine for means of drug trafficking. Medical approaches are available for cases in which patients remain asymptomatic, but surgical intervention is necessary for those with signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction or drug overdose.