Prognosis of cocaine body-packers.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prognosis and complications of cocaine body-packing (concealment of cocaine in the body for transportation between countries).


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the files of all cocaine body-packers hospitalized during a 4-year period in a medico-judiciary emergency unit. Subjects included in the survey were identified from the hospital databases using ICD-10 codes.


METHODS
The Medico-Judiciary Emergency Unit of Hôtel-Dieu university hospital in Paris is a unique medical and surgical emergency unit receiving all patients in legal custody arrested at the two Paris international airports and suspected of body-packing.


METHODS
All the cases of cocaine body-packers (n=581) hospitalized between January 1999 and December 2002 were studied. They had been arrested at Paris airports while arriving from drug-producing countries.


RESULTS
The mean number of carried packets was 70.0+/-20.4 (range 18-150). The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.0+/-1.6 days (range 1-18). No complication occurred in 573 body-packers cases. Eight subjects developed a complication requiring admission to an intensive care unit: six acute cocaine intoxications due to packet rupture and two intestinal occlusions. No one died. Surgical treatment was necessary in six cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Good prognosis observed in these body-packers cases is due to the careful monitoring of asymptomatic patients, allowing early detection and treatment of complications. Surgical removal of the packets when complication occurs is warranted.
de Prost
Nicolas
N
Respiratory and Intensive Care Unit, Hôtel-Dieu, 1 Place du Parvis de Notre-Dame, 75004, Paris, France.
Lefebvre
Aurélie
A
Questel
Frank
F
Roche
Nicolas
N
Pourriat
Jean-Louis
JL
Huchon
Gérard
G
Rabbat
Antoine
A
D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000506:poisoning*; D003415:Crime; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010297:Paris; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003042:Cocaine