Body packing
Background
- Body packers, also called "mules", swallow or insert drug filled packets into body cavity, usually to smuggle them across borders
- Packets usually made of several layers of latex and outer wax coating
- Each packet contains about 10g of drug and body packers ingest between 50 to 100 drug containers at a time[1]
- Sometimes packets are inserted rectally or vaginally
Clinical Features
- Situations in which body packers present to the ED:
- Asymptomatic but in custody
- Signs of systemic drug toxicity from a ruptured packet
- Signs of bowel obstruction or perforation
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
Management
Disposition
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Booker RJ. Packers, pushers and stuffers--managing patients with concealed drugs in UK emergency departments: a clinical and medicolegal review. Emerg Med J. 2009;26(5):316-20.