title: Value of a systematic operative protocol for cocaine body packers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Internal concealment of illicit drugs during international drug traffic represents an important problem in developed countries. These drug traffickers are called "body packers." The aim of this study was to analyze retroprospectively the surgical indications and complications for cocaine body packers and to describe our systematic operative protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1997 to December 2005, 1,181 cocaine body packers were admitted to our Medico-Judiciary Emergency Department. All patients had the same medical surveillance protocol. Nineteen patients required surgical procedure to remove drug packets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients had obstruction or intestinal retention (68%). Suspicion of packet rupture or cocaine intoxication occurred in six patients (32%). Zero to three enterotomies were necessary during laparotomy. No deaths occurred. One pouch abscess required relaparotomy and one wound abscess was treated medically. The median hospital stay was 7 days (range: 5-30 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few cocaine body packers required a laparotomy. Our systematic operative protocol allowed intestinal clearance and caused acceptable morbidity rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery, Hôtel-Dieu, Université Paris Descartes, AP-HP, Paris 75004, France. nikovri@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veyrie
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Servajean
authors.forename: Abdelhalim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aissat
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corigliano
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angelakov
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bouillot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D054368:Laxatives; D003042:Cocaine