Case Report

Body Packer with Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report

Abstract

Body packing (ingesting drug-filled packets) is a well-known method of drug smuggling, especially among prisoners. It carries significant risks, including packet rupture, bowel obstruction, and life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. We present a 37-year-old male prisoner with a known history of peptic ulcer disease
who presented with severe epigastric pain, coffee-ground vomiting, and hematochezia. Abdominal X-ray revealed multiple foreign objects consistent with drug packets. Due to ongoing bleeding and the rupture of one packet during removal, the patient underwent emergency surgical intervention. This case highlights the importance of early imaging, multidisciplinary management, and the need for surgical readiness in body packers with active bleeding.

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Files
IssueVol 10 No 5 (2025): September - October QRcode
SectionCase Report(s)
Keywords
Body packing Gastrointestinal bleeding Abdominal pain Drug smuggling Surgical intervention
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Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
1.
Mirfazaelian H, Mirbagheri S, Bagheri K. Body Packer with Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Case Report. CRCP. 2026;10(5):233-235.