Prospective evaluation of "crack-vial" ingestions

The "crack" (cocaine alkaloid) epidemic has resulted in an increasing number of hospitalizations of "crack-vial body-stuffers," or patients who ingest "crack-vials" in an attempt to avoid prosecution. Management strategies for this type of ingestion are lacking because of the paucity of data. This report discusses the demographics and symptomatology of 23 patients with "crack-vial" ingestions, as well as the value of abdominal radiographs and the utility of varied strategies for decontamination in this patient population.