title: [Atypical "body packing syndrome"--a case report].
abstract: A case of ingested cocaine is reported in which death must be classified as body packer syndrome although both the temporal relationship and the number of packets were atypical. The deceased, a consumer of hard drugs who smuggled for his own use, was found in his flat. He was resuscitated and survived for another four days in hospital. Only four intact drug packages were found in the upper gastro-intestinal tract. The concentrations of cocaine in blood and organs were relatively low but in a potentially lethal range. The case is presented, and its particularities as well as the option of induced vomiting as a way of preventing the fatal outcome are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Aus dem Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität Giessen.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brück
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Risse
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schütz
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.forename: Marcell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verhoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000506:poisoning*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000506:poisoning*; D003679:Deglutition; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D003042:Cocaine