A Fatal Case of Opioid Body Packer Syndrome Presented with Seizures

“Body packing” involves concealing drugs filled in packets inside the body to traffic illicit drugs. Packets may leak and rupture, which may have drug-induced toxic effects. We present a case of a 25-year-old male patient brought to the emergency department because of a seizure during an international flight. He was diagnosed with status epilepticus, and tracheal intubation was performed; however, he had a cardiac arrest shortly after. Pinpoint pupils and unclear patient history led to naloxone administration. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the patient was examined using computed tomography, which revealed multiple foreign bodies in the distal bowels. Blood toxicology tests were positive for opiates and negative for heroin metabolites, amphetamine, cocaine, barbiturate, and benzodiazepine. An emergency colonoscopy was performed, and the patient remained in the intensive care unit for 17 days before he died of to complications of Body Packer syndrome. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of this rare but potentially fatal condition are vital to improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Body packing, seizure, opioid, computed tomography