Body Packers And Stuffers Flashcards
Cocaine signs and sx
Tachycardia
HTN
Hyperpyrexia
Dilated pupils
Convulsions
Agitation
Chest pain
Arrhythmia
Nausea and vomiting
Abdo pain
Cocaine way to tKe
Snort
Rub into gums
Inject
Smoke
How many grams in a line of coke
Usually 0.1-0.2g
Up to 1g
Crack signs and sx
Tachycardia
HTN
Hyperpyrexia
Dilated pupils
Convulsions
Agitation
Chest pain
Arrhythmia
Nausea and vomiting
Abdo pain
How is crack taken
Smoke or inject
Heroin signs and sx
Bradycardia
Hypotension
Hypothermia
Miosis
Resp compromise
CNS depression
Pulmonary oedema
Can police order a scan
Inspector and above can technically authorise an X-ray or USS if reasonable suspicion of swallowing a class A
Pt and doctor can refuse scan
Which scan is advised for suspected body packing/stuffing
Low dose CT
Mx of symptomatic body packer
Early surgical referral
ToxBase guidance
Early ICU involvement
Contrast CT is stable enough and consents
Surgery if unstable
Mx of asymptomatic body packer
Negative CT/ doesn’t consent to CT, or positive scan - passing packages -> discharge to police w advice
Positive CT + not passing packages -> admit for observation, consider laxatives or WBI
Max of symptomatic body pusher
ToxBase guidance
LDCT
remove packages
Mx of asymptomatic body pusher
LDCT
Discharge to police
If no consent to scan - observe 8 hrs
Symptomatic Body stuffer mx
ToxBase guidance
Consider LDCT
Admit and treat or observe
Asymptomatic body stuffed mx
Observe at least 8 hrs after ingestion
Consider LDCT
Discharge fo police
Parachuting
Ingesting a drug in a particular way to get a delayed response or slow release
Drugs ingested by wrapping in a covering, which then will dissolve or unravel in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby releasing the drug for absorption
Body packing
Pre planned and meticulously organised
Packages designed for ingestion and to not leak product
Packages Designed to avoid detection
Organised criminal activity
Body stuffing
Ingesting drugs prepared for sale, usually unplanned and to avoid police finding drugs
Body pushers
Planned ingestion, but less meticulously than packers
Inserted into rectum or vagina
Usually to get drugs into clubs or festivals
What medications may be involved in body packing
Anti emetics
Constipating agents
Naloxone starting dose
1.2g
Increased to combat nitrazines
Why are stuffers more likely to be symptomatic than packers
Less robust packaging
(Packers still more high risk due to larger quantities/doses)
