A Five-Year Review of the Medical Outcome of Heroin Body Stuffers

Abstract The medical outcome of heroin body stuffers has rarely been described. This study was performed to illustrate the clinical course of heroin body stuffers. A retrospective chart analysis was performed on all cases of heroin body stuffers received by a metropolitan poison control center from...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of emergency medicine 2009-04, Vol.36 (3), p.250-256
Main Authors: Jordan, Matthew T., MD, Bryant, Sean M., MD, Aks, Steven E., DO, Wahl, Michael, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antidotes - therapeutic use
body packer
body stuffer
Charcoal - therapeutic use
Combined Modality Therapy
Commerce
Eating
Emergency
Endoscopy - methods
Female
heroin
Heroin - poisoning
Humans
Male
Naloxone - therapeutic use
Narcotic Antagonists - therapeutic use
overdose
poisoning
Poisoning - diagnosis
Poisoning - therapy
Therapeutic Irrigation
Time Factors
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Summary:Abstract The medical outcome of heroin body stuffers has rarely been described. This study was performed to illustrate the clinical course of heroin body stuffers. A retrospective chart analysis was performed on all cases of heroin body stuffers received by a metropolitan poison control center from 2000–2004. We identified 65 heroin body stuffers. Sixty-nine percent were men with a mean age of 35 years. The stated quantity of heroin containers ingested ranged from 1 to 30, with 65% reported as being wrapped in plastic. Six patients (9.2%) developed symptoms of opiate intoxication. All symptoms began within an hour after the ingestion. Three patients (4.6%) needed naloxone. The mean length of observation was 24 h. Opiate intoxication from heroin stuffing is uncommon. Those patients that developed symptoms did so early in their course. These data indicate a benign clinical course in most heroin body stuffers.
ISSN:0736-4679
2352-5029
DOI:10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.06.022