title: [Intestinal drug smuggling--a new diagnostic and therapeutic problem].
abstract: Since spring 1985 81 persons were examined because of suspected intestinal drug-smuggling (body-packing). 46 patients (57%) had drug-packages in the gastro-intestinal tract, in 35 persons (43%) the suspicion was not confirmed. 26 patients had swallowed the drugs (mostly cocaine) whereas in 20 cases drugs were found in the rectum (mostly heroine). Most important for diagnosis was abdominal x-ray whereas in our hands abdominal sonography was unreliable. When body-packing is diagnosed, observation and mild laxative in conjunction with sufficient beverages are recommended. Serious complications in our series comprised one patient with mechanical ileus and another with heroine-poisoning after rupture of a package.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deuel
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Münch
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zollinger
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Augustiny
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siegenthaler-Zuber
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vetter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine
vernacular_title: Intestinaler Rauschgiftschmuggel--ein neues diagnostisches und therapeutisches Problem.