special subjects
Body Packing and Body Stuffing
Diagnosis of Body Packing and Stuffing
Clinical suspicion based on history Pelvic and/or digital rectal examination Sometimes plain x-ray Suspected body packers and stuffers are usually brought to medical attention by law enforcement officials, but clinicians should consider body packing if recent travelers and newly incarcerated people present with coma or seizures of unknown etiology. Pelvic examination and digital rectal examination should be done to check those areas for drug packets. Plain x-rays can often confirm the presence of packets in the gastrointestinal tract. 