Document Type : Case Report(s)
Authors
1
Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2
1. Medical Toxicology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 2. Department of Clinical Toxicology and Poisoning, Imam Reza (p) Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3
Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4
Drug Control Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran
5
Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10.34172/ahj.2022.1336
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.
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