Gastric Obstruction by Opium Packets: A Case Report

Background: We reported a case of gastric obstruction in a body packer who swallowed a large number of opium packets. Case Report: A ۳۶-year-old man opium addict visited the emergency department with epigastric pain for three days. He swallowed nearly ۹۰ packets of opium for smuggling purposes four days earlier. He self-administered laxatives. In contrast, many times vomiting, he defecated only four packets and vomited one packet. The abdominal X-rays showed some amounts of fluid-air levels and multiple cylindrical opacities with the double-condom sign, corresponding to the distended stomach. Due to the worsening of his abdominal symptoms, he underwent an urgent laparotomy and ۸۴ packets (۴-۶ cm in size and ۸-۱۰ g/ packet of opium) with a total weight of ۸۷۰ g. They were wrapped in some layers of plastic and tied at the ends. He was discharged in stable condition. Conclusion: A large number of ingested drug packets can induce gastrointestinal obstruction.