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Endosc Int Open 2016; 04(04): E443-E445
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-103242
Case report
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Endoscopic retrieval of baggies in body stuffers

Mahtab Shabani
1   Department of Internal Medicine, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
,
Nasim Zamani
2   Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3   Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran
,
Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam
2   Toxicological Research Center, Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3   Excellence Center of Clinical Toxicology, Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

submitted 05 December 2015

accepted after revision 08 February 2016

Publication Date:
30 March 2016 (online)

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Background and study aims: Body packing/stuffing is currently a huge medical problem. A conservative approach and waiting for spontaneous packet expulsion are usually recommended. However, in a patient with packets stuck in the stomach, surgical treatments are generally advocated if complications occur.

Endoscopic evacuation of the packets is generally not favored because of its potential hazards, including manipulation and rupture of the packets and deterioration of the patients' condition. However, it may prevent more invasive treatment modalities including surgical intervention. We present case reports on four symptomatic body stuffers with potentially dangerous ingestions who underwent endoscopic evacuation of their packets and survived.

 

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