Unusual Complications in Cocaine Stuffers: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• Body stuffing involves ingesting illicit drugs in packets, posing risks like aspiration and toxicity.
• Cocaine is frequently involved in body stuffing incidents, leading to severe medical complications.
• Mechanical airway obstruction from body stuffing is a rare but critical complication.

Observation:

• A 32-year-old male presented with agitated delirium, cardiotoxicity, and airway obstruction due to cocaine body stuffing.
• The patient required resuscitation and a surgical tracheostomy to remove the obstructing cocaine packet.
• Hospitalization was complicated by rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury necessitating dialysis.

Findings:

• Cocaine body stuffing can lead to severe airway obstruction, cardiotoxicity, and arrhythmias.
• Successful survival from mechanical airway obstruction due to body stuffing has not been previously reported.
• This case demonstrates a rare instance of survival following airway obstruction from cocaine body stuffing.

Implications:

• Physicians must carefully assess airways in patients with suspected body stuffing to prevent obstructive complications.
• Endotracheal intubation requires caution in body stuffing cases due to potential for exacerbating obstruction.
• This case underscores the critical risks associated with cocaine body stuffing and the importance of prompt, specialized medical intervention.