Validation of a 6-hour observation period for cocaine body stuffers.

Abstract

Often, patients are brought in to the emergency department after ingesting large amounts of cocaine in an attempt to conceal it. This act is known as body stuffing. The observation period required to recognize potential toxic adverse effects in these patients is not well described in the literature. We sought to validate a treatment algorithm for asymptomatic cocaine body stuffers using a 6-hour observation period by observing the clinical course of cocaine body stuffers over a 24-hour period. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients evaluated for witnessed or suspected stuffing over 2 years using a standardized protocol. One hundred six patients met final inclusion criteria as adult cocaine stuffers. No patients developed life-threatening symptoms, and no patients died during observation. In our medical setting, stuffers could be discharged after a 6-hour observation period if there was either complete resolution or absence of clinical symptoms.

• Authors: Maria Moreira, Jennie Buchanan, Kennon Heard
• Journal: The American journal of emergency medicine (Am J Emerg Med) Vol. 29 Issue 3 Pg. 299-303 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1532-8171 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20825819 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cocaine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cocaine (poisoning)
• Crime
• Drug Overdose (therapy)
• Emergency Service, Hospital
• Female
• Foreign Bodies (therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Watchful Waiting
• Young Adult